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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicai  IVIicroreproductlons  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


i 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


,#' 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below 


L'Institut  a  microfilm6  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6X6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Stre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  IndiquSs  ci-dessous. 


^ 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag§e 


D 
D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pelliculSe 


D 


Cover  title  missing/      v 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


D 
D 


Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculSes 

Page!i«  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dScolor^es,  tachetSes  ou  piqu6es 


D 

D 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  Ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


D 
D 


Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


D 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


D 


Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualit^  in^gale  de  I'impression 


# 
^ 


D 
D 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intSrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutSes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film6es. 


D 
D 
D 


Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmSes  d  nouveau  de  fa9on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires: 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


E 


24X 


26X 


SOX 


28X 


32X 


\ 


re 

i^tails 
es  du 
modifier 
er  une 
lilmage 


ies 


/  errata 
id  to 

It 

le  pelure, 

9on  d 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thenks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustiated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —»- (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


1  2  3 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  fiim^s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmfo  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  y  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  dtre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6, 11  est  film6  i  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

4'.> 

6 

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u 


I.! 


An  Anonymous  Letter: 

A  NOVEL. 

TRANSLATED   FROM  THE  ITALIAN 


Teacher  of  French  and   Italian. 


Una  Lettera  Anonima: 


II 


VERSIONE  ITALIANA, 


DEL   SIGNOK 


BUFFALO:  ' 

Baker,  Jone.s  &'Co.,  Printers  and  Binders, 

mi. 


/»!     ^ 


'^. 


■  \ 


'f 

^<^\^<> 


lie 


Entered  aocordiDg  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1R85,  by  A.  A.  Nohili,  In  the 
office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Wasliington, 


A.  NoHiLi,  in  the 
on, 


U 


"Oreaolt    EunUo." 

TO  MY  FORMER  SUBSCRIBERS: 

Your  kindness  in  patronizing  my  "  Miscellaneous  Transla- 
tions" is  ftilly  appreciated.  Since  that  publication,  another 
year  has  been  numbered  amonj?  the  past,  and  after  struggling 
with  financial  difficulty,  I  now  have  succeeded  in  publishing 
this  little  volume,  which  I  submit  to  your  kind  consideration. 
For  the  convenience  of  the  lovers  of  ihe  Italian  language,  I 
have  placed  the  original  in  my  beautiful  native  tongue,  opposite 
to  the  almost  universal  English  one. 

With  the  hope  that  you  will  continue  your  patronage, 
I  remain,  yours  respectfully, 

Buffalo,  December,  1885.  A.  A.  NOBILB. 


LIST  OF  SUBSCEIBBRa. 

Abbott,  J.  B.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Alexander,  Mrs.  J.  E.,  Belleville,  Out. 
Alexander,  J.  W.,  M.  D.,  Quebec. 
Alexander,  M.  C,  Montreal,  Qnebeu 
Allen,  James  A.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Anderson,  D.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Andrews,  J.  A.,  Quebec. 
Andrews,  B.  B.,  BowmanvUle,  Ont. 
Andrews,  W.,  St.  Mary's,  Ont. 
Antlifife,  Rev.  J.  C,  Brantford,  Out. 
Aidi^b,  J.  A.,  Barrie,  Ont. 
Argo,  James,  Argus,  Ont. 
Armstrong,  Archibald,  Richmond,  Ont 
Armstrong,  Rev.  J.,  St.  John's,  Quebea 
Arthur,  K  C,  Stratford,  Ont. 


VI. 


LIST  OF  BDfii401llJt£BJ9. 


Ault,  W.,  Barrie,  Ont. 

BwIkIc/,  Rev.  E.  J..  Cobourg,  Ont. 

Budgley,  Hon.  W.,  Moiitreul,  Queboo. 

Buin,  A.  K.,  Cobourg,  Ont. 

Baldwin,  Right  Rev.  M.  B.,  D.  D.,  Ix>nd()n,  Onl. 

Bui  four,  Rev.  A.  G.,  Richmond,  Ont. 

Hall,  Hon.  B.,  Woodstock,  Ont. 

Ball,  W.  F.,  Richmond,  Ont. 

Balliintine,  Rev.  Jamet),  Pitrin,  Onl. 

Ballentine,  Mrs.  E.,  Somnierville  College,  Mich. 

Baptie,  O.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Barclay,  L.  J.,  Whitby,  Ont. 

Barrett,  R.  G.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Beattie,  Rev,,  Uuelph,  Ont. 

Beattie,  J.  R.,  Brantford,  Ont. 

Beatty,  Hon.  W.  H..  M.  P.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Beckett,  W.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Beique,  J.  L.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Bean,  ti.  L.,  Woodstock,  Ont. 

Bell,  A.  J.,  Cobourg,  Ont. 

Bell,  John,  Belleville,  Ont. 

Bendelari,  Cav.  Enrico,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Berryniun,  Miss  Coeie,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Bethune,  Rev.  C.  J.  8.,  Principal,  Port  Hope,  Ont. 

Bethune,  R.  A.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Bettridge,  W.,  M.  D.,  Strathroy,  Out. 

Biggar,  C.  R.  W.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Bg^ar,  W.  H.,  Belleville,  Ont. 

BiHliop  E.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Blake,  Hon.  E.,  M.  P.,  Toronto,  Ont 

Blake,  Hon.  8.  C,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Bland,  Rev.  Edward  M.,  Ingersoll,  Ont. 

Body,  Rev.  C.  W.  E.,  Provost  Trinity  College,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Boddy,  Ven.  Samuel  J.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Bogaert,  Rev.  D.,  Belleville,  Ont 

Bond,  8.,  Sherbrooke,  Ont. 

Booth,  Rev.  Oliver,  St.  Catherines,  v)nt. 

Bottani,  W.,  Buflalo,  N.  Y. 

Boucher,  R.  P.,  M.  D.,  Peterborough,  Ont. 

Bowes,  R.  H.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Bowes,  Robert,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Boyd,  Hon.  J.  A.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Boyd,  W.  E.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 


)nt. 


LIST  OB'  BUBBCIUIJEIW. 


th. 


BoTl6,  Rer.  W.  II.  W.,  Purw,  Ont. 

Boys,  U«v.,  Prof.  Algernon  Trinity  College,  loronto,  Unt. 

B«zenta,  Conte,  Pulund. 

Bronson,  Ell.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Brown,  Mrs.  George,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Brown,  Rev.  J.  \V.,  D.  D.,  Buliiilo,  N.  Y. 

Browne,  A.  A.,  Montreal,  Quebci;. 

Browne,  O.  M.,  Buftalo,  N.  Y. 

Browne,  John  J.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Buchanan,  Peter  T.,  Ottawa,  Ont.       ,  „  ^  ,     „  ^ 

Buckham,  Rev.  A.  B.,  Normal  bchool,  Buffalo,  N.  X, 

Buggin,  Hev.  George,  Drayton,  Ont. 

Buntin,  Mrs,,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Burgess,  A.  W.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Burke,  Itev.  J.  W.,  Belleville,  Ont. 

Burnham,  Hon.  John,  M.  P.,  Peterborough,  Ont. 

lUirng,  Rev.  A.,  D.  D.,  Principal  Ladies'  CoUego,  Hamilton,  Ont. 

Burns,  Edwanj,  Elora,  Ont. 

Burrows,  D.,  M.  D.,  Lindsay,  Ont. 

Burson,  George,  St.  Catherines,  ( )nt. 

Burwush,  Rev.  G.  N.,  Cobourg,  Ont. 

Buttus,  Mrs.  J.,  Stanstead,  Ont. 

Cameron,  A.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Cameron,  Mrs.  A.,  Toronto, Ont. 

Cameron,  John  (ilobe,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Cameron,  K.  8.  U.,  Strathroy,  Ont. 

Cameron.  Hon.  M.  C,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Campbell,  Rev.  John,  Harriston,  Ont. 

Campbell,  Sir  A.,  M.  P.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Campbell,  C,  M.  D.,  London,  Ont. 

Campbell,  J.  R ,  M.  D.,  Bufliilo,  N.  Y. 

Campbell,  Hill,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Carling,  Hon.  John,  M.  P.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Carlyle,  W.,  Woodstock,  Ont. 

Carmichael,  Rev.  H.,  Hamilton,  Ont 

Carr,  Harris  R^,  Kingston,  Ont. 

Carson,  J.  L.,'  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Carter,  Christopher  B.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Cartwright,  Hon.  R.  J.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Carty,  Miss  Marta,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Cnscaden,  Thomas,  Gait,  Ont. 

Casey,  Hon.  G.  W.,  M.  P.,  Fimjal,  Ont. 

Cass,  Miss  Ella  L.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 


rtxL 


LIST  OF  8UU.S('ltlUt:Ud. 


CSuHtdjr,  R«T.  H.,  St.  Catherines,  Ont. 

CmmIr,  Iluniilton,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Cameki,  Wulter,  loronto,  Ont. 

Caven,  Rev.  W..  Principal  Knox  College,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Cayley,  Kev.  John,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Chambllm,  W.  P.,  Cobuurg,  Ont. 

Checkiey,  Rer.  FranciH  L,  London,  Ont. 

Childa,  G.  W.,  Editor  Ledger,  Philmlelphia,  Pa. 

Chester,  Uev.  A.  8.,  D.  D.,  Printipiii  Biiflalo  Academy,  Biidiilo,  N.  Y. 

Christie,  W.  C.  Esq.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

ChristiniM,  F.  H,,  Hjmi,  Montreal,  (^oebec. 

Clark,  Miss  Elizabeth,  Hamilton,  Out. 

Clark,  George,  St.  Catherines,  Ont. 

Clark,  Rev.  W.,  Prof.  Trinity  College,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Clark,  Rev.  \V.  B.,  Queliec. 

Clarke,  Colonel  C,  Speaker  Toronto  Assembly,  Elora,  Ont. 

Clarke,  Hon.  W.  H.,  M.  P.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Clouston,  E.  8.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Cochran,  Robert,  Toronto. 

Cochrane,  Rev.  W.,  D.  D.,  Brantford,  Ont. 

Colbv,  Hon.  0.  C.  M.  P.,  Sherbrooke,  Out. 

Colghoun,  J.,  Berlin,  Ont. 

Collie,  John,  Gait,  Ont. 

Colville,  A.  L.,  Campbellford,  Ont. 

Comfort,  J.  B^  M.  D.,  St.  Catherines,  Ont. 

Conger.  Miss  Helene,  Toronto,  Ont. 

GooK,  A.  H.,  Quebec. 

Cooke,  Rev.  G.  B.,  Harriston,  Ont. 

Cooper,  Thomas  D.,  St.  Catherines,  Ont. 

Copeland,  John,  Cornwall,  Ont. 

Corvan,  W.  Whitby,  Ont. 

Courtenay,  J.  H.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Cousin,  Clark,  St.  John's,  Quebec. 

Cox,  George,  Peterborough,  Ont. 

Coxe,  Right  Rev.  A.  C,  Bishop  W.  N,  Y.,  Buffalo,  N.  T. 

Crane,  Prof.  Thomas  F.,  M.  A.  C,  Cornell  University,  Ithaca  N.  Y. 

Crews,  H.  W,  Strathroy,  Ont. 

Crookshank,  Rev.  S.,  Richmond,  Ont. 

Gross,  Selkirk,  Montreal,  Ont. 

Orossew,  Mrs.  James,  Cobourg,  Oak 

Davidson,  Charles,  Elora,  Ont. 

Davis,  A.  J.  Peterborough,  Ont 

Dawson,  J.  W.,  Principal  McGill  University,  Montreal,  Quebec. 


iirtiilo,  N.  Y. 


haca  N.Y. 


Quebec. 


LUiT  OF  HUBUCKIUKRS. 

DeCeJllii,  A.  D.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

DeGrajiBi,  A.  W.,  M.  D.,  Lindmay,  Ont. 

DeLumutho,  Mn.,  Montreal,  Ont. 

Delunmtre,  Henry,  Owen  l^und,  Ont> 

Del'Ktoile,  J.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Demill,  N.  IV.  Whitby,  Ont. 

Devey,  Mrs.  J.,  Kiclitnond,  Ont. 

Dick,  A.  F.,  Brampton,  Ont. 

Diokson,  George,  Iluuulton,  Ont. 

Digby,  Juiuus,  M.  D.,  Uruutford,  Ont. 

Dixon,  Rev.  A™  Quelph,  Ont. 

Dobwn,  John,  Lindsii/,  Ont. 

Doherty,  Charles,  P^sq.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Donaldson,  J.  C,  Fergus,  Ont. 

Douglass,  P.  B^  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Downey,  KeT.  W.  8.,  St.  CatherineH,  Ont. 

Drew,  G.  A.,  Elora,  Ont. 

DufT,  John.  Kingston,  Ont. 

Dugas,  C.  Aime.  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Dugdale,  J.  J.,  M.  D.,  Montreal,  Quebea 

Dnnfield,  John,  M.  D.,  Pe    >Ua,  Ont. 

Dunne,  Ilenry,  Montreal,  Out. 

Dunning^  J.  P.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Dapuis,  N.  F»  Prof.,  Kingston,  Ont. 

Durie,  Miss,  Orillia,  Oat. 

Duval,  Prof.  W.  A.,  R.  M.  C,  Kingston,  OnU 

Eakin,  G.  G.,  Campbellsford,  Ont. 

Earle,  J.  B.,  Bellevide,  Ont. 

Eastwood,  J.  W.,  M.  D,  Whitby,  Ont. 

Ebbels,  W.  D.,  Harriston,  Ont. 

Eccles,  W.  R.,  London,  Ont. 

Elliott,  Mrs.  John,  London,  Ont. 

Elliott  Mrs^  Toronto,  Ont. 

Ellis,  Prof.  W.  H.,  Toronto  University. 

Ernes,  A.  A.,  M.D.,  Drayton,  Ont. 

Empson,  Rev.  J.,  D.  D.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

English,  E.  W.,  London,  Ont. 

Eustaphieve,  Mrs.  E.  C,  Bufl'alo,  N.  Y. 

Falconbridge,  W.  G.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Falkiner,  N.  B.,  Belleville,  Ont. 

Fava,  Barone  Ferd.,  Minister  of  Italy,  Wnsliington,  D.  CL 

Fellman,  J.  B.,  Berlin,  Ont. 

Fennell,  J.,  Berlin,  Ont. 


U. 


^•''j?g.Wg^lW»)j«lWSt»il'|l'f"VI.»<<!ilii,Uffilip|lU 


X. 


LldT  or  tiUliiCJ.IBEIW, 


Ferguson,  A.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 
Femell,  Itev.  J.,  iSt.  Catherines,  Ont 
Ferrier,  A.  D.,  Fergus,  Ont. 
Fife,  Joseph,  M.  D.,  Peterborough,  Ont. 
Fisher,  D.,  BowmanTiUe,  Ont. 
Fleming,  Ch.  E.,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Fleming,  James,  Brampton,  Ont. 
Fletcher,  Asliton,  Woodstock,  Ont 
Fie  cher.  Prof.  J.,  Kingston,  Ont. 
Fleury,  W.  II.,  Aurora,  Ont. 
Flint,  Mrs.  W.  B.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Forbes,  Prof.  J.  H.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Forrest,  W.,  M.  D.,  Bradford,  Ont. 
Forster,  Ch.  E.,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Forater,  D.  M.,  Guelph,  Ont. 
Forster,  W.  A.,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Foster,  Hon.  G.  E.,  Ottawa,  On*.. 
French,  Hon.  B.  J..  M.  P.,  Prescott,  Ont. 
Friend,  B.,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Fry,  E.  C,  Quebec. 

Fulton,  Prof.  John,  M.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Gabel,  John,  Listowel,  Ont. 
Gait,  Lady,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Gardiner,  Kev.  R.,  Welland,  Ont. 
Gedham,  Kev.  W.  H.,  Lennoxville,  Ont. 
Geikie,  Prof.  W.  B.,  M.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont 
Gianelli,  Zeffiro,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Giannelli,  Cav.  A.  M^  Montreal,  Ont. 
Gibbons,  George,  M.  1).,  London,  Ont. 
Gibson,  S.,  Kapanee,  Ont. 
Gildersleev^  C.  F.,  Kingston,  Ont. 
Gilbert,  F.  D.,  M.  D.,  Sherbrooke,  Ont. 
Gilfillan,  James,  Bowmanville,  Ont. 
Gillispie,  G.  E.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 
Gilmour,  W.  A.,  Brookville,  Ont, 
Godden,  Eev.  Thomas,  Stirling,  Ont 
Gooderham,  A.,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Gooderham,  Henry,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Gooderham,  R.  T.,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Goodeve,  W.  M.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 
Goodman,  £.,  St  (.'atherines,  Ont 
Oorbould,  Mrs.,  Orillia,  Ont 


uSirtari'taminntma-mTrjmit'u, 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS. 

Goveller,  George,  Napauee,  Ont. 

Gow,  Peter,  Guelph,  Ont. 

Gowan,  Hon.  J.  B.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Graham,  Moon,  Esq^  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Grahame,  Rev.  W.  E.,  St.  Catherines,  Ont. 

Grant,  James,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Greener,  Rev.  James,  Lindsay,  Ont. 

Gregg,  Rev.,  Prof.  William,  Knox  Ciollege,  Toronto,  Out 

Grier,  Mrs.  R.  J.  E.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Griffin,  W.  H.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Groves,  A.,  Fei^is,  Ont. 

Guillemont,  Rev.  Charles  B.,  London,  Ont. 

Gunn,  A.,  Kingston,  Ont. 

Guthrie,  D.,  Guelpli,  Ont. 

Gzowski,  Colonel,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Hagarty,  Hon.  John  H.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Hague,  John,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Hague,  President  Bank  Montreal. 

Hale,  G.  H.,  OriUia,  Ont. 

Hall,  J.  B.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Hall,  Robert,  Stanstead,  Ont. 

Halliday,  M.  D.,  Peterborough,  Ont. 

Hamilton,  W.,  Belleville,  Ont. 

Hare,  J.  J.,  Whitby,  Ont. 

Harcourt,  Richard,  Welland,  Ont. 

Harper,  J.  W.,  Quebec. 

Harris,  Rev.  C.  M.,  Marmora,  Ont. 

Harty,  W.,  Kingston,  Ont. 

Haslam,  Prof.  George,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Hatch,  W.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Hiiuenstein,  Miss  Eugenie,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  ,  r  i     j 

Haviland,  Hon.  E.  Heath,  Governor  Prince  Edward  Island. 

Hay,  H.,  Barrie,  Ont. 

Heiner,  Joseph,  Montreal,  Quebec, 

Hellmuth,  J.  F.,  London,  Ont. 

Henderson,  Rev.  A. 

Henderson,  J.,  Barrie,  Ont. 

Henderson,  Rev.  J.  M.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Henderson,  M^  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Heneker,  R.  W- Sherbrooke,  Ont. 

Hess,  Hon.  G.  M.,  M.  P.,  Listowel,  OnU 

Hesson,  8.  R^  Stratford,  Ont. 

Hickson,  J.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 


XL 


•  ■■■^ii^.-i:^  ix  ^i^'^/fT''^} 


XII. 


LIST  OF  8CBSCR1BEBS. 


Higginbothain,  J.  W.,  Oshawa,  Ont 

Hill,  Arundel  C,  Strathroy,  Ont. 

Hillj  Newton,  Meaford,  Ont. 

Hilliard,  George,  Peterborough,  Ont 

Hilliary,  Miss  Nora,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Hilliary.  B.  W.,  M.  D.,  Aurora,  Onfc 

Hinck,  A.,  Napanee,  Ont. 

HingBton,  B.  £.,  Brussels,  Ont 

Hedging  John,  Ottawa,  Out 

Holbrook,  J.  M .,  Ottawa,  Ont 

Holland,  Eev.  H,  St  Catherines,  Ont 

Holland,  N^  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ' 

Holbrook,  6.  M.,  Ottawa,  Ont 

HoIme&  Mrs.  J.  B.,  Buflalo,  N.  Y. 

Horn,  J.  E.,  Eochester,  N.  Y. 

Hossack,  G.  C,  Quebec. 

Houston,  W.,  Toronto,  Ont 

Howland,  Oliver  A^  Toronto,  Ont 

Rowland,  W.  H.,  Toronto,  Ont 

Howland,  Sir  W.  P.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Hudderfield,  J.  H.,  M.  D.,  M.  P.,  Newmarket,  Ont 

Hughes,  Henry,  Paris,  Ont 

Hunter,  D.  H.,  Ingersoll,  Ont 

Hunter,  Eev.  W.  A.,  Toronto,  Ont 

Huntington,  Eight  Eev.  Fred.  Dan.,  D.  D.,  Bishop  ol  Central  New 

''York,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
Hurlburt,  G.  W.,  Meafoid,  Ont 
Hutchinson,  John,  M.  D.,  OoUingwood,  Ont 
Hntton,  Prof.  Maurice,  Toronto  University. 
Inglis,  George,  Orangeville,  Ont 
Intema6cia,Ilev.  A.,  Montreal,  Quebec, 
loerger,  Valentine,  Listowel,  Ont 
Irvin,  B.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Iwes,  Eev.  W.  B- Sherbrooke,  Ont 
Jackson,  W.  F.,  Bichmond,  Ont 
Jaert,  J.  W.,  Elora,  Ont 
Jarwii,  F.  W.,  Toronto,  Ont 
Jennings,  W.  J.  Palmerston,  Ont 
Joly,  Hon.  H.  G,  M.  P.,  Quebec. 
Johnson,  Arthur,  M.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont 
Johnson,  W.  H.LFergus,  Ont 
Johnston,  Eev.  Hugh,  D.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont 
Johnstone,  E.  F.  B.,  Guelph,  Ont 


[New 


LIST  OF  BTTB8CIIIBBBS. 

Jones,  Bev.  Septimus,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Jones,  Prof.  Rev.  W.,  Trinity  College,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Jones,  T.  J.,  Brantford,  Ont. 

Joseph,  G.,  Montreal,  Qnebec. 

Judah,  F.  P.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Junkers,  S.  W.,  Slierbrooke,  Ont 

Kay,  John,  St.  Catherines,  Ont. 

Eeifer,  A.,  OtUwa.  Ont. 

Keifer,  By  BrookvUle,  Ont. 

Kelley,  F.  W.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Kellond,  B.  A.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Kennedy,  A.,  M.  D.,  Montreal,  Quebeo. 

Ker,  Ber.  Robert,  Quebec. 

Ker,  W.,  Montreal,  Qnebec. 

Kerr,  Bev.  J.,  Durham,  Ont, 

Kettlewell,  W.,  Ingersoll,  Ont. 

Keye,  Prof.D.  R.,  Uniyereity,  Toronto,  Ont 

Kincaird,  M.D.,  Peterborough,  Ont. 

Kirkland,  Prof.  Thomas,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Kirkpatrick,  Bey.  J.  W.,  Kingston,  Ont. 

Kirkpatrick,  Hon.  G.  A.,  Speaker  Senate,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Kranji,  Hon.  H.,  M.  P.,  Berlin,  Ont. 

Labatt,  Mrs.  George,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Lakttt,  G.,  London,  Ont. 

Labatt,  J.,  Prescott,  Ont, 

Laftear,  Paul  F.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Laiklung,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Laird,  Bey.  J.  C,  Orangeyille,  Ont 

Langton,  Thomas,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Langtry,  Bey.  John,  Toronto,  Ont 

Lancey,  W.  F.,  Fergus  Ont 

Lash,  Li.  a.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Lawrence,  N.  D..  Sherbrooke,  Ont 

Leach,  W.  J.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Lebon,  Frank,  BrusBels,  Ont 

Lee,  Bey.  C.  Buasell,  Thorbum,  Ont 

Lee,  Cyrus  K,  Bufl&lo,  N.  Y. 

Lee,  W.  8.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Leitch,  A.,  M.  D.,  St.  Catherines,  Ont 

Letchworth,  Mrs.  G.  J^  Buflalo,  N.  Y. 

Lewis,  Mis.  G.  H.,  Buffido,  N.  Y. 

Lindsay,  Mrs.  W.  B.,  Montreal,  Quebea 

Litdehalei^  L.,  Hamilton,  Ont 


XSU. 


xrv. 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS. 


11 


Livingstone,  John  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Lobley,  J.  A.,  Lennoxville,  Out. 

Longhi,  L.  D,,  Cobourg,  Ont. 

Loudon,  Prof.  J  ,  Toronto  Univereity,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Lowell,  Sarah,  Montreal,  Qnebec. 

Lundy,  J.  B.,  M.  D  ,  Gait,  Ont. 

Lyster,  J.,  LL.  D  .  Kingston,  Ont. 

McCabe,  Prof.  J.  A  ,  Ottawa,  Out. 

McCaul,  Bey.  Janie^,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

McCullock,  11.  M.,  Gait,  Ont. 

McDongall,  Berlin,  Ont. 

McGee,  J.  M  ,  Whitby,  Ont. 

McGennan,  James,  Toronto,  Ont. 

McGill,  Major  Sidenham,  Kingnton,  Ont. 

McGiUivray,  Rev.  John,  Belleville,  Ont. 

Mclntyre,  A.  F.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Mclntyre,  John,  Kingston,  Ont. 

McKay,  A.,  M.  D.,  Ingersoll,  Ont. 

McLaren,  John,  Orangeville,  Ont. 

McLaren,  John,  Toronto,  Ont. 

McLaren,  Eev.,  Prof  W ,  Knox  College,  Toronto,  Ont. 

McMurrick,  W.  Barclay,  Toronto,  Ont. 

McBae,  W.  E.,  Kingston,  Ont. 

Macadam,  Thomas,  Strathroy,  Ont. 

Macdonald,  A.  H.,  Guelph,  Ont. 

Macdonald,  Sir  John  A.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Macdonald,  J,  Grant,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Macdonell,  Rev.  D.  J.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Maodonell,  G.  M.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Macdougall,  Frank  M.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Mack.  W.,  Cornwall,  Ont. 

Mackenzie,  J.,  A.  M.,  Woodstock,  Out. 

Maclean,  W.,  Belleville,  Ont. 

Macmech  an,  Archibald,  Gait,  Ont. 

Macmillan,  F.,  Brantford,  Ont. 

Macmillan,  J.,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Macnab,  Rev.  Alex.,  Bowmanville,  Ont. 

Maooun,  Prof.  John,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Mqor,  F.,  Montreal,  Ont. 

Malloch,  A.  H.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Marsden,  W.,  M.  D.,  Quebec. 

Msthewaon,  J.,  Montreal,  Ont. 

Mechanio^B  Institute,  Belleville,  Oni 


tABt  OP  S  UBF(  I1IBER8. 

Mechanics'  Institute,  Rowmanville,  Ont. 
"  '        Montreal,  Quubec. 

Merchant,  F.  W.,  Ingersoll,  Ont. 
Mer«>dith,  Mrs.  E.  A.,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Millar,  Alex.,  Berlin,  Ont. 
Milburn,  Mr.  J.  C ,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Mills,  Hon.  David,  M.  P.,  London,  Ont. 
Mills,  Prof.  James,  Ouelph,  Ont. 
Mitchell,  John,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Mitchell,  Joseph,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Mixer,  Prof.  A.  H.,  Eochester,  N.  Y. 
Molson,  J.  E.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Mouk,  F.  D.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Montgomery,  H.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Moore,  C.  G.,  M.  D.,  liondon.  Out 
Moore,  G.,  Berlin,  Ont. 
Moore,  W.,  Montreal,  Ont. 
Morden,  A.  L.,  Napanee,  Ont. 
Morris,  Hon.  Alex.  Toronto,  Ont, 
Morse,  W.  M.,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Morse,  Charles,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Mowat,  Rev.  Prof.  J.  B.,  Kingston,  Ont. 
Mowat,  Hon.  Oliver,  Premier  of  Ontario. 
Mulholknd,  Rev.  Canon. 
Mulock,  IJoD.  W.,  M.  P.,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Murray,  Alexander,  Brampton,  Ont. 
Murray,  Mrs.  G,,  Toront'    Ont. 
Murray,  H.  E.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Mnrray,  Rev.,  London,  Ont 
Nelles,  liev.  Prof.  S.  S.,  D.  D.,  Cobourg,  On» 
Nicholson,  Prof  A.  B.,  Kingston,  Ont. 
Norman,  Rev.  Canon,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Norris,  Hon.  James,  St.  Catherines,  Ont. 
North,  Rev.  Walter,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Nosworthy,  J.  C,  Ingersoll,  Ont. 
Nunc,  Prof.  James,  Buffalo,  N.  Y 
Oldright.  W.,  M.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont. 
Oliver,  \V'.,  Brantford,  Ont. 
Onetto,  L  ,  Buflalo,  N.  Y. 
Orr,  R.  K ,  Whitby,  Ont. 
Outerbridge,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
Palmer,  J.  H.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 
Pardee,  Hon.  T.  B.,  Toronto,  Ont. 


iV. 


XVI. 


LIST  OF  BtrB8CRIBE«8. 


Parks,  J.  C,  Moulreal.  Quebec. 

Pasini,  P.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Pateraon,  J.  N.,  Owen  Sound,  Ont. 

PattereoD,  Hon.  C  8.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

"attereon,  J.  C,  M.  P.,  OtUwa,  Ont. 

Pearson,  M.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Petch,  John,  Brantford,  Ont. 

Philps,  Rev.  John,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Piche,  A.,  M.  D..  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Pinto,  J.,  Chilian  Legation,  Waalnngton,  U.  O. 

Piritte,  W.,  Brantford,  Ont. 

Ponton,  E.  G.,  Belleville,  Ont. 

Pope,  Hon.,  Ottawa,  Ont.  . 

Potts,  Rev.  John,  D.  D ,  Montreal,  Ont. 

Proudfoot,  Hon.  W.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Putnam,  Hon.  James  O.,  Buffalo,  N.  x. 

Rad<^e,  J.  W.,  St  Catherines,  Ob*. 

Raymond,  li.  D.,  Welland,  Ont. 

Ranforu,  E  J.,  ()t;awa,  Ont. 

Bead,  W.,  Montren).  Quebec. 

Reid,  W.  W.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Reynar,  Prof.  A.  B.-,  Cobourg,  Ont. 

Rice,  Hon  A.  M.,  Boston,  Mass. 

Richard,  Rev.  F.  B.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Rickey,  Hon.  MathewH.,  Governor  of  Nova  bcoti*. 

Richmond,  J.  M.,  Buffalo.  N.  Y. 

Riel,  Joseph,  Montreal,  Queliec. 

Ritchie,  Thomas,  Belleville,  Ont. 

Bobbins,  B.  P.,  U.  S.  C,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Robertson,  Alex.,  Belleville,  Ont. 

Robertson,  J.,  Toronto,  Ont 

Bobinson,  Hon.  J.  B,  Governor  of  Ontario. 

Bobinson,  Sir  James  L.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Boe,  Francis,  Whitby,  Ont. 

Eoi),  J.  B.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Bogers,  Sherman  S.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Boot,  Ella  A.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Bose,  John  E.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Rossi,  Antonio,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Ross,  Hon.,  Toronto,  Ont 

Ross,  Rev.  P.  B.,  Ingertoll,  Ont. 

Bothwell,  E.  E.,  Monti-eal,  Quebec. 

Rpwand,  W.  L.  H.,  Knox  College,  Toronto,  Ont. 


If 


■  ■*l«v.-j.:'»~.i.T'V, 


I 


LIST  OF  BUasCRIBEBS.  XVII. 

Riisiel],  Henry,  M.  D.,  Quebec. 

Hussell,  J.  ]{ ,  M.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Ryordon,  Charles,  St.  Catlierines,  Out.  « 

Soirth,  J.  L»  Toronto,  Ont. 

Schartz,  E.,  QueJwv'. 

Schneider,  Prof.  G.  A.,  Trinity  College,  Toronto,  Oit. 

Scott,  Rev.  A.  II.,  Owen  Sound,  Ont. 

Scott,  (Charles  J.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Scringer,  Prof.  John,  Montreal,  Quebec 

Sellstedt,  L.  G.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Sheard,  Prof.  Charles,  M.  D.,  Toronto,  Out. 

Sheldon,  Prof.  Ed  Stevens,  Harvard,  Cambridge,  Man. 

Shaw,  George  E.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Sibbald,  E.  W.,  Belleville,  Ont. 

Simpson,  D.,  Bowmanville,  Ont. 

Sinker,  E.  J.,  Newmarket,  Ont. 

Slade,  VV.  H  ,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Smith,  D.,  Guelph,  Ont. 

Smith,  Prof.  Gotdwin,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Smith,  Rev.  F.  Ralston,  D.  D.,  Buffhlo,  N.  Y. 

Smith,  Harley,  Sti  throy,  Ont. 

Smith,  J.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Smith,  J.  C,  Knox  College,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Spence,  George,  Owen  Sound,  Ont. 

Spra^ue,  Hon.  J.,  Godefrey,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Squair,  Prof.  J.,  Toronto,  OnU 

Steele,  Alexander,  Orangeville,  Ont. 

Steiner,  Joseph,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Stephens,  A.  J. ,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Stevenson,  M.  D.,  Strathroy,  Ont. 

Stevenson,  Rev.  J.  J.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Stone,  Emily  H ,  M.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Stuart,  J. ,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Sutherland,  Rev.  A.,  D.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Sutiierland,  Rev.  D.  G.,  London,  Ont. 

Sweetman,  Right  Rev.  Arthur,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Toronto,  Oct 

Tane,  Rev.  Francis  R.,  Bath,  Ont. 

Tifand,  L  ,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Tiffin,  Mrs.  J.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Tilley,  Hon.  Sir  Leonard,  Ottawa,  Ont, 

Tindall,  W  ,  M  D  ,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Thomas,  H.  L.,  Washington. 

Thompson,  W.  G.,  Welland,  Ont. 


JO' 


XVIII. 


LIST  OF  SlIBSfHlBERS. 


Tremayne,  Rev.  J.,  Mimico,  Out. 

Trenholme,  N-  W.,  Montreal,  Qiieliec. 

Tupper,  Sir  Charles,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Tyler,  Prof.  W.,  Quelph,  Ont. 

Van  Bokelen,  Rev.  L.,  Bufliilo  N.  Y. 

Van  Dick.  Rev.  L.  B.,  Buflalo,  N.  Y. 

Wallace,  Sir  Richard,  London,  Enxland. 

Walker,  J.  B..  Belleville,  Ont  „  ^  .     „   „ 

Ward,  James  W.,  Grosvenor  Library,  Biitfulo,  N.  Y. 

Watson,  Montreal.  Quebec. 

Wells,  Rev.  G.  H, ,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Wheatham,  Charles,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Whycoff,  C.  C,  M.  D.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

White,  James,  St.  Catherines,  Ont. 

White,  M..  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Whitney,  A.,  Presiwtt,  Ont. 

Whitney,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Wild,  Rev.  Joseph,  D.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Wilkes,  Mrs.  R.,  1'oronto,  Ont. 

Williamson,  Prof.  Rev.  James,  Kingston,  Ont. 

Wilmot,  Hon.  R.  Duncan.  Governor  New  Brunswick. 

Wilson,  J.  P.,  St.  Catherines,  Ont 

Wilson,  Prof.  Daniel,  LL  D  ,  President  University  of  Toronto. 

Wilson,  John,  Cobourg,  Ont. 

Withrow,  Rev.  W.  H.,  D.  D  ,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Williams,  W.,  Woodstock,  Ont. 

Workman,  Prof.  G.  C,  Cobourg,  Ont. 

Workman,  J.,  M.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Wood,  John,  Montreal,  Quebec. 

Wood,  Hon.  Samuel  C,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Woods,  Rev.  8.,  Ladies'  College,  Ottawa,  Ont. 

Wright,  Goorge,  M.  D.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Wright,  Prof.  R.  R  ,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Wurtele,  Hon.  H.  J.,  Montreal,  Ont. 

Young,  Prof.,  Toronto,  Ont. 

Young,  John  B.,  Montreal,  Quebec. 


^fwitf>a»^t.ftfciftg 


*««*aM^.'jM^,»¥y  .V'«»«a:J  wt,'*o«(E?«'f^js«fl««i^'^^ii*&safej:saMLfet* 


onto. 


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INDEX. 

I.  TiiE  Public  WurrErt Page  2 

II.   Thk  L0VEK8 "  40 

III.  The  Fkiend "  72 

IV.  The  Trial "  IK) 

V.  The  Autoghai'ii "  138 

VI.  The  Reveiise  of  the  Cauds "  176 

Ejuuxjue "  210 

INDICE. 

I.  Lo  ScRiVANO  PuHiujco Pji«?ina    3 

II.  Gli  Amanti ^'  41 

III.  L'  Amiga "  73 

IV.  L'  ESPEBIENZA "  111 

V.    L'     AUTOGRAFO "  139 

VI.  lii  R0VE8C10  DELLE  Carte "  177 

RiEPiLooo "  217 


An  Anonymous  Letter. 


THE  PUBLIC  WRITER. 

Fifteen  or  sixteen  yeai-a  ago,  the  courtyard  of  the 
Holy  Chapel  presented  quite  a  different  aspect  from 
the  present  one.  It  is  not  because  many  changes  have 
been  made,  or  because  the  streets  leading  to  it  have 
been  improved  or  widened.  No,  indeed,  everything 
has  remained  in  nearly  the  same  primitive  state.  The 
wooden  wall,  which  once  enclosed  the  staircase  by 
which  the  people  ascended  to  the  corridor  communicat- 
ing with  the  public  Hall  of  the  pas  perdm,  though  a 
little  elevated,  still  encircles  the  old  monument;  but 
with  the  increasing  activity  which  took  place  in  the 
locality,  many  of  the  characteristic  marks  of  old  Paris 
have  gradually  disappeared.     Before  the  oponmjg  of 


r. 


Una  lettcra  Anonima. 


:  of  the 
ct  from 
ges  have 
it  have 
jrything 
G.  The 
•case  by 
tnunicat- 
iiough  a 
ent;  but 
J  in  the 
>ld  Paris 
suing  of 


I. 


LO  SCRIVANO  PUBBLICO. 

Quindici  o  sedici  anni  fa  la  corte  della  Santa  Capel- 
la  presentava  un  aspetto  ditfercntisslrao  da  qiicUo  che 
oggi  oi  offre.  Non  h  giA,  perch^  vi  siano  stati  ese- 
guiti  molti  cambiamenti,  o  perchfe  se  ne  siano  abbelli- 
ti  od  allargati  gli  sbocchi  adiacenti  pei  quali  vi  si 
giunge.  No,  tutto  ci6  e  rimasto  quasi  nello  stato  pri- 
mitivo.  II  muro  in  tavole,  che  altravolta  chiiideva 
la  scalinata  per  la  quale  si  saliva  al  corridoio  che  comu- 
nicava  coUa  sala  dei  passi  perdnti,  abbencho  un  |)oco 
rialzato,  adesso  tuttavia  gira  atlorno  al  vecchio  monu- 
mento;  per6  la  crescente  attiviti  stabilitasi  in  questo 
circondario  poco  a  poco  ha  f atto  scomparire  molte  del- 
le  marche  caratteristicho  del  vecchio  Parigi.     Prima 


4  AN   ANONYMOUS   LETTBR. 

this  new  thoroughfaro  the  court  of  the  Holy  Chapel 
was  almost  as  a  nuhurb  of  the  city  where  every  track 
of  Parisian  socicjty  was  lost,  one  aft«r  another. 
This  courtyard  formed  a  little  world  by  itself,  which 
hivd  its  own  invariable  customs;  now  noisy,  now  silent 
und  always  frequented  by  the  same  people.  Early  in 
the  morning  by  the  ushera  of  the  Supreme  Court  who 
remained  till  the  hour  at  Avhich  the  referonduires  were 
used  to  arrive,  by  the  clerks  of  a  lawyer's  office  situated 
ujjon  the  threshold  of  the  den  of  sophistry,  and  by  the 
housckeepei-s  of  the  neighborhood,  who  mingled  with 
the  water  earners  at  the  corner  of  the  little  street  of 
St.  'Ann.  At  twelve  o'clock,  when  all  was  quiety  the 
honorable  membei-s  of  public  surety,  whoso  barracks 
were  not  far  off,  and  who,  without  any  ettbrt  of  imag- 
ination, could  have  been  compared  to  the  paltoniefsoi 
old  times,  were  used  to  come  to  wann  themselves  in 
the  sunshine.  Every  day  at  about  the  same  time  the 
courtyard  resounded  with  the  noise  of  heavy  vans 
whose,  stables  were  at  the  northern  comer  of  the 
Carte  dei  Conti.  At  this  place,  in  a  recess,  behind 
the  staircase  and  precisely  under  the  hall  of  the  first 
chamber  of  Supreme  Court  had  lived  for  fifteen  or 
twenty  years  a  man  called  Duverrier,  a  contractor  of 
the  prisoners'  conveyance,  an  industry  advantageous 
enough  to  allow  him  the  gratification  6f  the  luxury  of 


y  Chapel 
ery  truck 
another. 
If,  which 
ow  silent 
Early  in 
Aurt  who 
ires  were 
a  Hitunt()d 
nd  by  the 
;lcd  with 
street  of 
[uiety  the 
burracka 
of  iniug- 
tonlei'sot 
iselves  in 
time  the 
avy  vans 
r  of  the 
},  behind 
the  first 
fifteen  or 
;ractor  of 
mtageoiis 
uxury  of 


ITNA  I,KrrK«A  ANONIMA.  0 

che  qucsto  nuovo  transito  fosse  apert«  la  corto  dclla 
Santa    Cappella    era    i)or    cos\    dire  un  subborgo 
della  citt:\,  dove  I'un  dopo  I'altro  scoiupararivano  i  ve-^ 
tigi  della  societA  parigina. 

(^ucsta  corte  formava  un  piccolo  mondo  a  parte  che 

aveva  lo  sue  invariabili  abitudini,   quando  chiassoso, 

quando  silenzioso  o  scmpro  frequentato  dalla  mcdeai- 

ma  popola-'/ionc;  sul  bol  mattino  dagli   uscieri   dclla 

Corte  doi  Conti  dw  rinianovano  fino  all'ora  in  cui  ginn- 

gevano   i   n^forciularii,    dagritnpiegati   di   un  uftido 

di  causidico  situato  sul  limitaro  dell'antro  dei  cavilli 

e  dalle  coramari  dello  caso  circonvicine  le  quali  si  nic- 

scolavano  coi  portatori  d'ac(iua  aggruppati  prosso  la 

fontjuia.     Sul  mozzod'i  allorquando  tiitto  era  tranquillo, 

gli  onorovoli  nicnibri  della  brigata  di  i)ul)blicasicurcz- 

za,  di  cui  il  quartioro  generale  trovavaai  pochi  pass; 

distante  e  che  senza  grando  sforzo  d'immaginazione 

si  sarebbero  potuto  paragonair  agli  antichi  paltonieri 

venivano  a  riscaldarsi  al  sole.     Tutti  i  giorni  circa  la 

fltessa  ora  il  cortile  rimbombava  del  runioro  di  pcHanti 

carrctte,  di  cui  le  stidle  trovavansi  airangolo  settentrio- 

nale  della  Corte  dei  Conti.     In  questo  luogo  in  un 

fondo,  dietro  la  scalinata  e  precisamente  sotto  la  sala 

d'udienza  della  prima  camera  del  Regio  Tribunale  dw 

quindici  o  venti  anni  alloggiava  un  buon'  uomo  chia 

matoDuverrierintraprenditoredcltrasporto  dei  prigio 

nieri,  industria  sufficientemente  lucrativa  da  permet 

tergli  la  soddisfazione  di  una  passione  fortissima  chV 


*is'Ev'«M^i;Ti!i5a>iie«iJB'jfi»-  ■ 


6 


AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 


rare  flowers  which  was  his  strongest  passion.  The 
entrance  of  that  dark  cavern,  which  he  inhabited, 
gi'eatly  resembled  a  florist's  stall,  and  the  grass  which 
was  growing  amidst  the  pavement  prolonged  the  ver 
dure  a  few  feet  further  than  the  narrow  space  Avhich 
he  used  as  a  gai'den.  At  twilight,  when  the  mopoton- 
ous  silence  was  only  broken  by  the  steps  of  the  senti- 
nel beneath  the  gas,  burning  before  the  palace,  this 
slimly  lighted  and  almost  deserted  place  was  the  ren- 
dezvous of  the  lovers  from  the  surrounding  streets. 
Each  morning  resembled  the  preceding,  always  the 
same  events,  and,  we  may  say,  almost  the  same  con- 
vei-sations  exchanged  by  the  same  people. 

On  account  of  the  increasing  activity  many  offices 
of  public  writers  had  been  opened  around  the  walls  of 
the  Holy  Chapel,  but  at  the  time  at  which  our  narrat- 
ive begins  only  one  of  these  offices  had  been  left.  It 
was  situated  at  the  right  hand  of  the  covered  passage 
leading  to  the  Rue  de  la  Bar'devie.  Every  morning 
the  tenant  of  this  hole  as  big  as  a  sentinel's  box  used 
to  hang  at  the  most  conspicuous  place  a  frame  con- 
taining many  specimens  of  different  kinds  of  writing, 
which,  profusely  decorated  with  flourishes,  were  hard- 
ly intelligi  ble.  It  was  almost  impossible  for  the  owner 
to  look  at  those  testimonials  of  his  calligraphic  ability 
without  raising  his  eyes  to  Heaven,  and  without  heav- 
ing a  deep  sigh,  as  if  they  awakened  in  him  the  mem- 


sion.  The 
inhabited, 
yrass  which 
ed  the  ver 
pace  v.'hich 
lo  niopoton- 
E  the  sentl- 
palace,  this 
as  the  ren- 
ng  streete. 
always  the 
same  con- 

lany  offices 
;he  walk  of 
our  narrat- 
en  left.  It 
■ed  passage 
J  morning 
s  box  used 
frame  con- 
of  writing, 
were  hard- 
>r  the  owner 
phic  ability 
ithout  heav- 
n  the  mem- 


XJNA  LETTEEA  ANONIMA.  • 

gU  aveva  pel  fiori  rari.  L'entrata  di  quell'  antro  buio 
nel  quale  cgli  viveva,  rassomigliava  molto  ad  una  bot- 
tega  da  fioraio,  e  I'erba  che  cresceva  nel  selciato  pro- 
lungava  la  verdura  qualche  piede  sldllk  del  ristretto 
spazio  che  gU  serviva  da  giardino.  Al  cadere  della 
notte,  allorquando  il  monotono  silenzio  era  solo  inter- 
rotto  dai  passi  della  sentineUa  la  quale  passeggiava  al- 
ia luce  del  lampione  acceso  dinanzi  al  palazzo,  questo 
luogo  deserto  poveramente  illuminato  diventavailcon- 
vegno  degl'innamorati  del  vicinato.  Ogai  domani 
rassomigliava  al  d\  precedente,  sempre  gli  stessi  avve- 
mmenti,  e  con  pochissima  differenza  potremmo  dire, 
sempre  le  medesime  conversazioni  scambiate  fra  le 
medesime  persone. 

'A  motive  dell'aumento  del  movimento  erano  state 
aperte  diverse  botteghe  di  pubblici  scrivani  addossate 
al  muro  della  Santa  Cappella;  per5  all'epoca  in  cui 
cominciailnostroracconto,  di  quelle  botteghe  ne  rima- 
neva  una  sola  situata  suUa  dritta  del  voltone  che  con- 
duce alia  via  della  Barillene.     II  pigionale  di  queUa 
bicocca  grande  al  pari  del  casotto  di  una  sentinella  so- 
leva  Bospendere  al  lato  ch'era  piu  in  cvidenza  un  qua- 
dro  rappresentante  modclli  di   scritture  di  differente 
genere  che  circondati  comfrano  da  infiniti  omamenti 
appena  potevano  essere  decifrati.     Era  pel  proprietar 
rio  cosa  impossibile  il  mirare  quel  saggi  della  sua 
ability  senza  soUevare  le  pupiUe  al  cielo,  e  senza  get- 
tare  un  proiEondo  sospiro,  quasi  che  la  loro  visia  risve- 


m 


I*  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEK. 

morics  of  better  times  and  sorrows  at  the  unjust  con- 
tempt in  which  he  had  fallen. 

On  the  four  opaque  and  dirty  panes  of  glass,  through 
which  light  penetrated  in  this  box,  was  written  with 
yellow  letters:     "Editorials,  Memorials,  Petitions, 
Letters  of  Compliments  for  Christmas  and  New- 
Years,"  and  on  the  other  side:     "A.  C.  Ternisien, 
*  5}x-Professor  of  PENMANsmp  in  the  Universiiy." 
Notwithstanding  the  above  high  qualification  and  the 
complete  absence  of  competition,  the  sign  produced 
very  little  effect,  as  one  would  infer  by  the  dress  of 
the  poor  writer.     In  winter  as  in  summer  his  suit  was 
always  tlie  same.      A  black  silk  scull-cap  on  .which 
rested  continually  a  hat,  made  water-proof  by  a  thick 
coat  of  gi-ease,  while  as  his  only  suit  he  always  carried 
a  thin  alpaca  coat,  the  original  color  of  which,  together 
with  its  lining,  had  ceased  to  be  determined,  and  whose 
torn  and  opened  pockets,  always  empty,  yawned  at 
pleasure,  a  waistcoat  with  metal  buttons,  a  worn-out 
pair  of  black  trousers,  shrunken  and  scarcely  reaching 
to  his  ankles,  a  very  coarse  pair  of  felt  stockings  and 
wooden  shoes  filled  with  straw,  completed  the  dress; 
and  yet,  with  all  these  rags,  Ternisien  appeared  in  no  way 
disgusting  or  repulsive,  because  in  his  countenance 
beamed  an  honesty  and  kindness  which  were  not 
feigned.     Ib  him  every  one  could  easily  recognize  a 


JiBli'MM^Wl'-CI 


MiliilliBMii 


UNA  LETTEltA  ANONIMA. 


9 


0  unjust  con- 

jlass,  through 
written  with 
a,  Petitions, 
^8  AND  New- 
).  Teknisien, 
Jniversitt." 
ition  and  the 
gn  produced 
the  dress  of 
:  his  suit  was 
»p  on  .which 
f  by  a  thick 
ways  carried 
ich,  together 
d,  and  whose 
,  yawned  at 
a  worn-out 
!ely  reaching 
ocldngs  and 
:d  the  dress; 
redinnoway 
countenance 
h  were  not 
recognize  a 


gliasse  sempre  in  lui  il  ricordo  di  uno  stato  pifi  pro- 
spero  ed  il  sentimento  dell'ingiusto  disprczzo  in  cui  egli 
era  caduto. 

Sulla  porta  omata  di  quattro  vetri  opachi  e  siidici 
dai  quali  la  luce  entrava  nel  bugigattolo  vedevnsi  si»rit- 
to  in  lettcre  gialle,  da  una  parte;  Kedazioni,  Memokie, 
Suri'LiCHE,  Letteue  onomasticiie  e  di  capod'anno; 
e  dalFaltra,  A.  C.  Terniwen,  ex  profkssore  di  cal- 
UGKAFiA  deix'Universita.  Questa  insegna,  quan- 
tunque  accompagnata  da  cosi  ampoUosa  qualilica  e 
non  ostante  la  totale  assenza  di  concon-enza,  produceva 
mediocrissimo  rcsultato,  secongetturaredovevasidagli 
abiti  del  povero  scrivano.  II  suo  abbigliamento  d'in 
vemo  come  di  state  era  sempre  lo  stesso.  Un  beiTct- 
tino  di  seta  ncra  sormontato  da  un  cappello  rcso  im- 
permeabile  da  un  denso  strato  di  unto  era  sempre  suUa 
sua  testa,  e  trascinava  seco  qual'unico  abbigliamento 
un  abituccio  di  alpaga  che  unitamente  alia  fodora  ave- 
va  perduto  il  suo  primitivo  colore,  e  del  quale  le  logore 
ed  apci-te  tasche  sbadigliavano  sempre,  perche  vuote; 
un  panciotto  serrato  con  bottoni  di  metallo;  un  paio 
di  pantaloni  neri  consunti  e  dall'  uso  scorciati  fino 
agli  stinchi;  delle  grossolano  calze  di  feltro,  dei  zoccoli 
ripieni  di  ficno  completavano  il  suo  vestito.  Eppure 
Teraisien  con  tutti  quel  cenci  nulla  aveva  diripugnan- 
te  e  stomachevole,  a  cagione  di  un'  aria  proba  ed  ones- 
ta  che  non  era  aifatto  simulata.  Si  riconosceva  facil 
mente  in  lui  I'uomo  decaduto  da  una  posizione  miglio- 


i 


10  A»   ANONTMOUS  LETTER. 

gentleman  fallen  from  a  better  standing,  neither  brut- 
alized nor  degraded  by  misery  or  by  drunkenness,  the 
vice  generally  belonging  to  those  who  suffer  hunger. 

His  face  and  hands  were  always  cleaner  than  his 
dress;  his  voice  was  very  melodious;  and  his  features 
expressed  resignation,  even  when,  as  a  daily  occurrence, 
he  was  complaining  to  his  neighbor  Duverrier,  and 
often  his  complaint  would  have  lasted  all  day  but  for 
(lie  arrival  of  some  customers,  who  happened  to  come 
and  interrupt  them. 

In  spite  of  his  excessive  economy,  ais  work  would 
not  have  been  sufficient  for  his  daily  wants,  if  he  had 
not  been  the  possessor  of  a  little  capital,  with  great 
pain  acquired  in  better  times,  and  which  was  destined 
to  buy  for  him  a  bed  in  some  hospital,  when  old  age, 
which  was  approaching  with  hurried  steps,  would  have 
deprived  him  of  his  sight.  For  this  reason,  these  sav- 
ings were  sacred  to  him.  He  considered  them  as  a 
deposit  which  the  old  professor  of  penmanship  had 
trusted  to  the  hands  of  the  public  writer.  It  was  very 
painful  to  him  not  to  be  able  to  add  the  interest  to  the 
capital.  Even  if  his  office  had  been  richly  furnished, 
or  in  a  better  position,  it  is  more  probable  that  the  up- 
right Temisien  would  not  have  realized  profits  in  pro- 
portion to  his  labors. 

The  poor  man  possessed  one  fault,  the  drawbacks  of 


tMVMilJWiiM^tWaWJMilWmife.:^ 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


11 


neither  brut- 
kenness,  the 
Fer  hunger, 
icr  than  his 
his  features 
occurrence, 
verrier,  and 
day  but  for 
ned  to  come 

work  would 
3,  if  he  had 
I,  with  great 
<ras  destined 
en  old  age, 

would  have 
n,  these  sav- 
d  them  as  a 
aanship  had 

It  was  very 
terest  to  the 
r  furnished, 

that  the  up- 
•ofits  in  pro- 

rawbacks  of 


re  non  abbi-utito,  ne  dfigradato  dalla  miscria  o  dal- 
I'ubbriachezza  ch'e  il  vizio  pnrticolare  di  coloro  che 
soffrono  la  fame. 

II  suo  viso  e  le  sue  mnni  erano  sempre  piu  pulite 
dei  suoi  abiti,  la  sua  voce  aveva  un  accento  ripieno  di 
dolcezza  ed  il  suo  sguavdo  esprimeva  la  rassegnazione 
anche  quando,  cosa  che  fra  parentesi  verificavasi  gior- 
nalmente,  ei  lamcntavasi  col  suo  vicino  Duverrier,  e 
spesso  i  suoi  lamenti  sarcbbero  durati  I'intero  giorno, 
se  la  presenza  di  un  qualche  awentore  non  fosse  inter- 
venuta  ad  inteiTomperli. 

A  dispetto  della  sua  eccessiva  economia,  il  lavoro 
non  sarebbe  stato  sufficiente  ai  suoi  cotidiani  bisogni, 
se  non  fosse  stjito  possessore  di  un  piccolo  capitalecon 
molta  pena  accumulato  nei  tempi  piii  felici,  e  che  do- 
veva  servire  per  comprargli  un  letto  in  qualche  spedale, 
allorquando  la  vecchiezza  che  avanzavasi  a  grandi  pas- 
si  gli  avesse  tolto  I'uso  della  vista.  Cotesta  somma 
per  I'anzidetto  motivo  era  per  lui  sacrosanta.  Egli  la 
considerava  quale  un  deposito  che  I'antico  professoredi 
calligrafia  aveva  confidato  nelle  mani  del  pubblico  scri- 
vano.  Era  per  lui  cosa  dolorosissima  il  non  potere  ag- 
giungere  gl'interessi  al  capitale.  Quand'  anche  la  bot- 
tega  fosse  stata  addobbata  con  maggior  lusso  ed  espo- 
sta  in  una  miglioi-e  situazione  e  cosa  molto  probabilc 
.oho  I'onesto  Temisien  non  avi-ebbe  potuto  realizzare 
beneficii  in  proporzione  delle  sue  fatiche. 

n  poveretto  possedeva  un  difetto  di  cui  gVinconve- 


4!M*M««W«-.<W!aHS^,'SaVi,- 


i 


12  AN  ANONYMOUS  LBTTEIl. 

which  were  increased  by  an  exaggerated  honesty.  He 
suffered  with  absentmindedness,  and  whether  he  wrote 
from  dictation  or  whether  he  copied,  the  orthographi- 
cal mistakes,  the  repeated  words  which  needed  to  be 
erated,  multiplied  themselves  under  his  pen.  Always 
mistrusting  himself  and  his  want  of  attention,  he  used 
to  read  over  accurately  what  he  wrote,  making  the 
necessary  corrections,  and  when  these  were  too  nume- 
rous, he  again  began  his  work,  withoiit  adding  a  cent 
to  the  stipulated  price,  and  not  wishing  to  deceive 
about  the  quality  of  his  work,  nor  that  the  customei-s 
should  pay  for  his  absentmindedness. 


Scraples  of  this  kind  in  commercial  ti-ansactions, 
which  ranged  from  five  to  twelve  cents,  made  him  a 
true  loser  each  time,  that,  unlucky  for  him,  his  distrac- 
tions had  spoiled  a  few  sheets  of  ministerial  paper. 

"Well,  sir,  what  news?"  was  the  question  Ternisien 
used  to  address  to  his  neighbor  Duverrier  every 
time  he  passed  his  office,  while  Duverrier  never  failed 
to  answer: 

"May  I  ask  the  same  of  you  ?" 

In  this  way  the  conversation,  begun  with  almost  al- 
ways the  same  preamble,  lasted  some  time.  Of  course, 
as  every  one  could  easily  understand,  the  first  topic 
was  the  political  situation,  which  proceeded  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  neither.    These  considerations  of  high  im- 


)nesty.  He 
ler  he  wrote 
rthographi- 
eded  to  be 
I.  Always 
on,  he  used 
naking  the 
9  too  nume- 
Iding  a  cent 
:  to  deceive 
B  customei's 


ransactions, 
ladc  him  a 
his  dlstrac- 
1  paper, 
n  Ternisien 
rrier  every 
lever  failed 


1  almost  al- 

Of  course, 

first  topic 

i  to  the  sat- 

of  high  im- 


nWA  LETTKRA  ANONIMA. 


18 


nienti  venivano  duplicati  da  una  esagerata  probity. 
Egli  soffriva  di  distrazioni  e  vuoi  che  scrivesse  sotto 
la  dettatura,  vuoi  che  copiasse,  gli  sbagli  di  ortografia, 
le  parole  ripetute  che  dovcvano  cssere  scancellate  pare- 
vano  moltiplicarsi  sotto  la  sua  penna.  Sempre  difli- 
dando  di  se  e  della  sua  mancanza  di  attenzione  ei  leg- 
geva  e  rileggeva  accuratamente  tutto  cio  ch'ei  scriveva, 
faceva  le  necessarie  correzioni,  e  quando  (jucste  erano 
troppo  numerose,  ei  ricominciava  il  suo  lavoro  senza 
nulla  aggiungere  al  prezzo  doniandato,  non  volendo 
ingannare  suUa  quality  del  lavoro  coloro  che  ricorreva- 
no  al  suo  ufficio,  ne  volendo  far  loro  pagare  la  sua  sba- 
dataggine. 

Scrupoli  di  tal  fatta  in  transazioni  commcrciali  che 
variavano  da  venticinque  a  sessanta  centesiini  lo  melte- 
vanoinvera  perdita,  allorquando  disgraziatamente  per 
lui,  le  sue  disattenzioni  avevano  sciupato  van  fogli  di 
carta  da  supplica. 

"Ebbene,  che  c'fe  oggi  di  nuovo  vicino  ?"  era  la  doman- 
da  che  Ternisien  dirigeva  al  suo  vicino  Duvcrrier  tutte 
le  volte  che  questi  passava  innanzi  la  sua  bottega,  e 
Duverrier  dal  canto  suo  non  mancava  mai  di  rispondere: 

"Son  io,  che  ve  lo  domando." 

Cos\,  la  conversazione  intavolata  quasi  sempro  coUo 
stesso  preambolo  venivaprolungata  per  qualche  tempo. 
Prima  di  tutto  come  pu6  facilmente  supporai,  gli  aflFa- 
ri  politici  non  andavano  a  seconda  del  desiderii  n^  del- 
Tunc,  nh  dell'altro.    Esaurite  queste  considerazioni  dl 


14 


AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTES. 


portance  being  ended,  they  passed  to  personal  facts. 
Duverrier,  whose  business  was  a  prosperous  one, 
avowed  himself  an  optimist,  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
Temisien  looked  at  the  dark  side  of  everything. 

Once  the  man  of  the  prisoners  said  to  the  latter: 

"I  am  going  to  give  you  a  piece  of  good  and  re-as- 
suring news.*' 

"What  is  it?" 

'  'Nothing  of  importance.  While  I  was  watering  the 
flowei's,  Mr.  B.,  the  referendaire  who  is  in  the  good 
graces  of  the  president,  approached  me  with  those 
words:  'Mr.  Duverrier,  you  have  very  beautiful  car 
melias.'  For  your  sake  I  seized  the  occasion,  and  I 
took  the  liberty  of  presenting  him  with  a  few  Thimo- 
leon's  bulbs  for  a  garden  which  he  rented  at  Passy." 

"If  you  have  done  this  in  my  own  interest,"  an- 
swered Temisien,  "I  thank  you  for  it  very  much,  al- 
though, my  good  friend,  I  shall  beg  of  you  to  explain 
to  me  what  I  have  to  do  and  in  what  way  I  am  con- 
nected with  this  business." 

"You  must  have  heard  of  a  scheme  to  beautify  our 
courtyard  of  the  Holy  Chapel.  Now  guess,  if  you  can, 
what  were  the  intentions  of  these  gentlemen?  Now, 
since  I  found  you  a  protector,  I  may  tell  you  without 
fear.  Well  then,  they  intend  to  destroy  your  office 
and  send  you  elsewhere  to  carry  on  your  business." 

"Indeed?"  exclaimed  Temisien  with  the  expression 


LI 


raonal  {acts, 
porous  one, 
other  hand, 
thing, 
le  latter: 
)d  and  re-as- 


w^ateringthe 
in  the  good 

with  those 
)eautiful  ca- 
sion,  and  I 
few  Thimo- 
at  Passy." 
iterest,"  an- 
y  much.,  al- 
u  to  explain 

I  am  con- 

)eautify  our 
3,  if  you  can, 
len?  Mow, 
ron  without 
your  office 
lusiness." 
a  expression 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


15 


alta  importanza  si  passava  ai  fatti  porsonali.  Duvev- 
rier  del  quale  1'  industria  prospcravu  si  <lichiarava  allo- 
ra  ottimi8ta,mentre  inveco  Ternisien  continuavaa  vede- 
ra  tutto  dal  lato  il  piii  nero. 

Un  giomo  I'uoiuo  dei  prigionicri  disse  a  quest'  ul- 
timo: 

"Debbo  daiTi  una  buonae  consolantc  notizia." 

"Quale,  vicino?" 

"Oh,  cosa  di  poca  importanza.  Nel  mentre  ch'  io 
inafiiava  i  fiori,  il  Signor  B.,  il  refercndario  ch'  h  nello 
buone  grazie  del  Presidcnte,mi  si  e  avvioinato,e  mi  ha 
detto:  'Avete  delle  belHsinio  camelie,  signor  Duver- 
rier.'  Nel  vostro  interesse  ho  preso  la  palla  albalzo,e 
mi  sono  permesso  di  ofiVirgli  dei  bulbi  di  Timoleonte 
per  un  giardinetto  ch'  egli  prende  in  fitto  a  Passy." 

"Se  avete  fatto  questo  nel  mio  intercsse,"  rispose 
Ternisien,  *'ve  ne  ringrazio  infinitamente;  pero,  mio 
caro  vicino,  vi  pregherei  di  spiegarmi  il  come  ed  il  perch*^ 
io  mi  trovi  mescolato  in  questa  transazione." 

"Sapete  bene  qualmente  vi  siano  per  1'  aria  certi 
progetti  di  abbellimenti  da  eseguii-si  ncUa  nostra  corte 
della  Santa  Cappella.  Or  bene  indovinatc  1'  intenziote 
di  questi  signori?  Adesso  che  vi  ho  trovato  un  protet- 
tore  posso  ben  dirvi  il  tutto;  ebbene,  questi  signori 
pensano  a  distruggere  la  vpstra  bottega,  ed  a  mandar- 
vi  altrove  ad  esercitare  11  vostro  commercio. 

"Dawero !"  esclam6  Ternisien  con  un  movimento  di 


i 


i<  t 


16  AN   ANONYMOUS   liETTElt. 

of  a  person  about  to  loose  what  he  wrongly  called  his 
suppoi'ting  business. 

"Yes,"  added  tho  other ;  "but  \w  at  easo.  As  I  have 
told  you  alremiy,  I  took  advantages  to  speak  of  it  to 
Mr.  B.  He  has  a  certain  esteem  for  ine,  and  you  will 
not  remove." 

Those  last  words  cmght  to  have  brought  back  to  tho 
lips  of  Ternisien  the  usual  smile,  but  his  thoughts  had 
fled  to  his  sitm.tion,  and  instead  of  smiling  he  heaved 
u  deep  sigh. 
'  "Are  you  sorry?"  asked  Puven'ier. 

"No,  no,  on  the  contrary;  again  accept  my  best 
thanks.  At  least  hope  will  bo  left  to  me,  and  hope  is 
something,  although  alone  it  cannot  enrich  us.  Lis- 
ten, my  friend,  now  my  profession  is  not  worth  a  cent. 
Innovation  has  killed  us.  In  Franco  nothing  is  per- 
manent. Ev.^rv  djiy  brings  new  changes,  and  old 
habits  are  as  well  loved  as  cast-oft'  clothing.  Arts, 
which  were  once  praised,  are  now  despised.  What 
good  wm  you  expect  from  such  a  state  of  things?" 

"Upon  my  word,"  answered  Duverrier,  "I  can't 
understand  what  you  are  complaining  of.  For  my 
part  I  believe  innovations  are  very  excellent  indeed. 
Mankind  tends  always  to  perfection,  this  being  one  of 
the  laws  of  society.  For  example,  my  father  used  to 
convey  the  prisoners  in  cars,  which  brought  so  many 
shocks  that,  at  the  moment  of  leaving,  the  poor  men 


r  called  his 

.  As  I  have 
ik  of  il  to 
intl  you  will 

hnt'k  to  the 
toughtH  had 
:  he  heaved 


3t  my  best 
and  hope  is 
h  us.     Lis- 
V  oil  ha  cent, 
liing  is  per- 
:«,   and  old 
ing.      Arts, 
sed.     Wliat 
things?" 
jr,    "I  can't 
f.     For  my 
lent  indeed, 
being  one  of 
ither  used  to 
;ht  so  many 
be  poor  men 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  17 

tcrrore,  quasi  si  vedesse  tolto  quello  ch'  ei  niolto  male 
a  projiosilx)  soleva  ohiamare  il  .muo  giiadagnapane. 

"Si,"  riprese  1'  altro,  "ma  siato  tranquilio,  coniegiiV 
vi  ho  dettojho  prolittalo  dcU'  occasione  per  parlarneal 
Signor  B.  che  ha  molta  stima  per  me,  e  voi  nou  slog- 
gereto." 

Quest'  ultinu!  parole  uvrehbero  dovuto  resliture  il 
sorriso  suUe  labbra  deUo  scrivano,  ma  il  suo  pensiero 
gi{\  era  coi-so  alia  suasituazione.cd  iuvece  di  surridero 
egli  emise  un  profondo  sospiro. 

•'Siete  afflitto  di  cio?"  domand*')  Dnvonlcr. 

"No,no,alcontrariorieevete  di  Ix-I  miovo  i  miei  rin- 
graziamenti.  Almeno  mi  vernl  laseiata  la  s|)eranza, 
ed  e-gifl  qualche  cosa,  abbeneiii!  sola  essa  nou  iMwti  ad 
arricchirci.  Vedete,  vicino  mio,  la  miu  professione 
non  ha  piii  alcun  valore.  Le  imiovazioni  ci  uecidono. 
In  Fraucia  nulla  e  stabile.  'J'utti  i  giorni  del  nuovi 
cambiamenti,e  le  veeehie  abitudiui  sono  aniate  come  le 
camicielogore.  Learti,  chegisl  tempo  erano  inonore, 
oggi  sono  disprezzate.  Che  cosa  di  buono  volete  che 
Bucceda?" 

"Afffj  mia,"  risposo  Duveirier,  "non  so  di  che  cosa 
voi  vi  lagniate,  quanto  a  me  trovo  che  taluni  cambia- 
menti  sono  eccellenti;  1'  uomo  tende  semprealperfezio- 
namento,  essendo  questo  una  delle  leggi  della  societi. 
Per  esempio,  mio  padre  conduceva  i  prigionieri  in  car- 
vette  che  davano  tali  scosse  che  al  momento  di  di^cen- 


^n 


ms^m^imjtm.-- 


I 


18  AN  ANONrMOUS  LETTER. 

were  obliged  to  review  tlieir  teeth,  in  order  to  see 
whether  they  hud  lost  any.  I,  on  the  contrary,  carry 
my  prisoners  in  can-inges,  bo  soft,  that  they  are  as  coni- 
fortulile  as  if  they  were  on  the  best  coach.  Doyousce 
anything  bad  in  this  improvement  (f    I  do  not." 

"Possibly,"  said  Ternisien,  "the  same  docs  not  hap- 
pen to  me.  When  first  I  established  myself  in  this 
abode  I  had  some  little  profit.  From  time  to  time  I 
chanced  to  have  a  good  job,  which  gave  me  time  to 
wait  patiently  and  which  made  up  for  the  days  I  Avas 
without  work.  Near  by,  at  the  lawyer's  office,  I  had 
splendid  customei-s.  When  they  hud  plenty  of  work 
and  wished  to  enjoy  themselves,  thoy  furtively  brought 
to  me  copying  to  do.  They  paid  without  bargaining 
and  without  a  mnmiur,  and  the  work  was  easy  because 
they  recommended  me  to  do  it  in  the  most  unintelli- 
gible manner." 

"And  why,  please,  do  they  not  call  any  more  on 
your  talent?" 

"Because  they  don't  need  it.  Have  not  lithogi-aphy 
and  type-writing  been  invented  i  The  work  is  done 
quickly  and  at  less  cost.  It  is  thus  that  artists  become 
ruined.  I  shudder  to  think  of  it ;  it  is  the  last  blow 
given  to  penmanship.  I,  who  now  am  speaking  to 
you,  once  used  to  give  lessons  at  sixty  cents  each;  I 
have  taught  the  position  of  the  body  and  how  to  man- 


UNA  LETTKIU  ANONIMA. 


19 


•der  Ut  see 
rary,  carry 
lire  as  coni- 
Do  you  SCO 
lot." 

M-a  not  hap- 
'Hclt  in  this 
1  to  time  I 
no  time  to 
lays  I  Avas 
iftice,  I  had 
ity  of  work 
ely  brought 
bargaining 
asy  because 
st  unintelli- 

y  more  on 

lithogi'aphy 
)rk  is  done 
ists  become 
le  last  blow 
speaking  to 
nts  each;  I 
low  to  man- 


derne  i  poverotti  dovevano  passare  in  rivinta  i  denti 
per  vcriticare  so  no  avcssero  pcnlnto  (juak'ho(huu). 
lo,  invcce,  oggi  condiico  i  niici  prigionicri  in  carrozzjj 
woffici  e  nclio  (juali  essi  staniio  cost  comodamcnht  coiue 
se  fosMoro  scduti  su  di  un  sot'A.  In  (juusto  canhiamcn- 
to  non  vi  acorgo  male  alcuno." 

"PoHsibilc,"  disso  TcrniHicn,  "io  non  pof-so  dire  lo 
stesHo.  Qnando  venni  in  quosto  luogo,  vi  cia  anconi 
quak^hc  lucro;  di  tratto  in  tratto  c«] >itavii  qualchc  piccolo 
colpodifoi'tunachepernK'ttcvanil  di  aspcttarc  pazienlo- 
mente,e  che  coniiHinsavaigiorni  nciqualinon  lavorava. 
LA  accanto,  ncUo  studio  dell'  avvooato  vi  cnino  ecccl- 
lenti  avv<'ntori.  (^uando  i  comnwjssi  av(!vnno  niolto 
da  fare,  e  che  avcvano  volontA  di  f'ivertii'si,  di  nas- 
costo  mi  port'i vano  dclle  copie.  Pagavano  son/u  osscr- 
vtuioni  e  senza  mcrcantcggiai'o  e  per  mo  era  un  lavoro 
t'acilissimo,  che  mi  veniva  sempro  raccomandato  di 
farli  non  intcUigibili. 

"E  perche  di  grazia,  adesso  non  si  dirigono  piu  a 
vol?" 

"Perchfe  non  no  hanno  bisogno.  Non  e  stata  forso 
inventata  la  litogi-afia  c  1'  autogratia  ?  Jl  lavoro  h  fatto 
pill  presto,  e  costa  meno.  Ecco  in  (jual  modo  gli  ar- 
tieti  vengono  rovinati;  fremo  a  pensarvi,  e  questo  e 
1'  ultimo  colpo  dato  alia  cailigrafia.  Io,  che  adesso  vi 
parlo,  altravolta  dava  le«ioni  a  tre  lire  1'  una,  ho  inse- 
gnato  la  posizione  del  corpo  ed  ho  spiegatoilmaneggio 


'    M 


20  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

age  the  pen  to  lads  of  the  first  families,  to  misses  who 
had  hands  whiter  and  softer  than  the  paper  on  which 
they  used  to  write.  I  taught  in  a  college  of  the  capi- 
tal, and,  to  become  perfect,  two  years  of  application 
were  necessary.  We  taught  by  principles,  and  slow- 
ly, while  now  some  charlatans,  who  have  turned  every- 
thing topsy-turvy,  pretend  to  teach  penmanship  in  six 
weeks.  All  that  made  me  shudder.  Truly,  I  am  no 
longer  a  young  man,  but  my  eye  is  good  and  my 
hand  does  not  tremble  yet,  and  if  the  old  methods 
were  esteemed  as  they  deserve,  I  should  not  be  a  pub- 
lic writer." 

Ternisien  had  never  before  delivered  so  long  a 
speech.  He  felt  the  need  of  resting  himself,  wiped 
his  nose  and  offered  Duverrier  his  snuff-box. 

The  latter  took  advantage  of  this  pause  to  say: 
■  "Why  do  you  not  employ  the  new  methods  if  the 
old  ones  are  no  longer  useful  1" 

••'I!"  replied  the  old  professor  with  a  look  of  con- 
tempt; "I !  Should  I  then  have  wasted  twenty  yeai-s 
of mylifein  studying  the  art  of  writing  well?  Should 
T  have  overcome  all  the  difficulties  and  learned  all  the 
forms  of  penmanship — round  Jtand^  Gothic,  Italian, 
etc.— only  in  order  to  approve  now  with  my  example 
a  bad  innovation  ?  Never !  And  by  the  way,  do  you 
know  this  renowned  and  extolled  invention,  about 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONBU. 


21 


misses  who 
V  on  which 
)f  the  capi- 
application 
,  and  slow- 
medevery- 
iship  in  six 
ly,  I  am  no 
id  and  my 
d  methods 
it  be  a  pub- 

so  long  a 
self,  wiped 

o  say: 
lods  if  the 

ok  of  con- 
v^enty  yeai-s 
1?  Should 
•ned  all  the 
ic,  Italian, 
ly  example 
'ay,  do  you 
tion,  about 


della  penna  a  giovinetti  appartenenti  alle  prime  fami- 
glie,  a  signorine  chepossedevanodellemanipiubiancho 
e  pill  liscie  della  carta  vellna  sulla  quale  tracciavano  le 
lettere.  Sono  stato  professore  in  un  coUegio  della  ca- 
pitale  ed  in  quel  tempo  per  giungere  alia  perfezione  ri- 
chiedtivansi due annidi  studio;  s'  imparava  lentamente, 
secondo  le  regole,  adesso  invece,  certi  ciarlatani  che 
hanno  scompigliato  tutto,  pretendono  d'  insegnare  la 
calligrafia  in  sei  settimane,  Tutto  questo  mi  fa  strin- 
gere  le  spalle.  Egli  e  vero  che  non  sono  piii  giovine, 
ma  1'  occhio  e  buono  e  la  mano  non  trema  ancora, 
e  se  i  vecchi  metodi  fossero  stimati  come  dovrebbero 
esscrlo,  oggi  io  non  sarei  scrivano  pubblico  ?" 

Ternwien  clie  mai  aveva  pronunziato  un  cosi  lungo 
discoi-so  in  un  sol  tratto  provo  il  bisogno  di  riposai-si, 
si  soffio  il  naso  ed  off ri  a  Duverrier  una  presa  di  tabacco. 

Quest'  ultimo  profitto  di  quel  riposo  per  doman- 
dargli; 

''Perchfe  non  mettete  in  pratica  i  nuovi  metodi,  se 
i  vecchi  non  sono  piii  in  vogaf 

"Io!"  riprese  il  vecehio  professore,  "io!  Avrei 
dunque  passato  venti  anni  di  mia  vita  nello  studiare  i 
scgreti  dell'  arte  di  scrivere,  avrei  superate  tutte  le  dif- 
ficolt^  ed  imparate  tutte  le  forme  dei  caratteri,  roton- 
do,  gotico,  inglese  al  solo  fine  di  approvare  col  mio 
esempio  una  dannosa  innovazione  ?  Mai,  e  poi  mai ! 
E  sapete  a  che  si  induce  questa  decantata  e  famosa  ii^- 


©MSjfc*i5*VWt*li*. 


28  AN   ANONYMOUS   LETTER. 

which  Carstairs  and  his  pupils  made  so  much  noise} 
It  is  simply  the  inclined  calligraphy  which  they  impru- 
dently have  disfigured  and  by  a  mechanical  process, 
apart  from  the  intellect,  have  made  uniform  for  every- 
body. And  here  is  where  the  evil  lies  I  A  cook  may 
write  as  well  as  his  own  teacher,and  their  handwriting 
will  be  so  similar  that  no  difference  can  be  distinguished, 
and  then  of  what  use  will  be  that  other  useful  and  pre- 
cious art  of  guessing  the  moral  character  of  an  individ- 
ual by  his  handwriting,  I  should  ask  you.  No,  no, 
Chrisostomus  Ternisien  will  never  countenance  the 
propagation  of  such  impious  inventions.  I  am  ready 
to  change  my  profession,  and  by  compelling  me  to 
leave  this  place  they  will  perhaps  confer  me  a  favor. ." 
*  His  interlocutor  was  already  preparing  himself  to 
ask  of  him  the  explanation  of  these  last  words,  but 
was  prevented  from  doing  so  by  the  arrival  of  a  lad 
between  twelve  and  thirteen  years  old,  resolute  in  his 
bearing,  bold  and  quick  like  a  true  gamvn.  of  Paris, 
who,  turning  his  eyes  from  one  to  another,  ended  by 
asking: 

"Are  you  the  writer?" 

Duverrier  went  away,  leaving  Ternisien  alone  with 
his  customer. 

"What  do  you  want,  young  manf ' 


uch  noise? 
;hey  impru- 
al  process, 
1  forevery- 
L  cook  may 
andwriting 
binguished, 
:ul  and  pre- 
an  individ- 

No,  no, 
Dnance  the 
[  am  ready 
[ling  me  to 
!  a favor. ." 
himself  to 
words,  but 

of  a  lad 

)lute  in  his 

of  Paris, 

ended  by 


ilone  with 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


23 


venzione  di  cui  Carstairs  ed  i  suoi  discepoli  hanno  me- 
nato  tanto  rumore?  Nella  scrittura  ineguale,  la  calli- 
grafia  legata  ed  inclinata  ch'  essi  sf  acciatamente  hanno 
sfigurata,  e  per  mezzo  di  un  procedimento  meccanico 
nel  quale  1'  intelletto  non  c'  entra  per  nulla  hanno  reso 
uniforme  per  tutti.  Ecco  dove  sta  il  vcro  danno. 
Una  cuoca  pu6  scrivere  al  pari  del  suo  maestro,  e  la 
callignifia  della  prima  sarA,  talmcnte  rassomigliante  a 
queUa  del  secondo  da  non  potere  essere  liconosciuta, 
ed  in  questo  caso  a  che  cosa  serve  1'  altra  cosi  preziosa 
ed  utile  arte  d'  indovinare  dalla  calligi'afia  i  diversi  ca- 
ratteri  degl'  individui?  Ve  lo  domando  un  po';  no, 
CrisostomoTemisien  non  prester^  il  suo  concorso  alia 
propagazione  di  cosl  fatte  invenzioni  e  di  cosl  fatte 
pemiciose  dottrine.  Sono  piuttosto  deciso  a  cambiare 
di  professione  e  costringendomi  a  sloggiare  di  qui  for- 
se  mi  farebbero  un  favore. 

n  suo  interlocutorc  giA  si  accingeva  a  domandargli 
conto  di  queste  ultime  parole  ma  ne  f  u  prevenuto  dal- 
1'  arrivo  di  un  ragazzo  fra  gli  undici,  o  tredici  anni 
di  et^  dal  portamento  risoluto,  sveglio  ed  ardito  a  m6 
di  un  vero  biricchino  di  Parigi  il  quale  volgendo  gli 
sguardi  ora  suU'  uno,  ora  sull'  altro,fin\perdomandare: 

"Siete  voi  lo  scrivano?" 

Duverrier  si  ritir6  lasciando  Ternisien  a  quattr'  occhi 
col  suo  cliente. 

'Che  cosa  vuoi  giovinotto  T  gli  domand6  TelHisien. 


«r 


M 


AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEH. 


i     i 


"I  wish  you  to  copy  this,"  answered  the  youth, 
showing  him  a  piece  of  paper  which  he  folded  in  his 
fingers.  Ternisien  glanced  at  it  without  reading  it, 
and  only  assured  himself  of  the  quantity  of  the  work. 
After  this  first  inspection,  going  out  of  the  shop  and 
bringing  his  customer  before  the  frame,  he  asked  him: 

"What  sort  of  writing  do  you  wish?"  and  with  his 
fingei"8  pointed  out  the  different  specimens. 

The  lad  looked  at  him,  and  finally  told  him  to  choose 
the  cheapest. 

Ternisien  went  to  his  seat,  prepared  a  beautiful 
sheet  of  paper,  cut  a  new  pen  and  began  the  reading 
of  the  manuscript.  After  a  few  lines  he  stopped, 
raised  his  eyes  to  the  little  urchin,  who  was  standing 
with  his  shoulders  against  the  posts  of  the  door,  and 
who,  with  crossed  arms  and  legs,  was  whistling  an  air 
with  variations  of  his  own.  Any  one,  who  might  have 
observed  the  looks  of  Ternisien,  could  have  easily  per- 
ceived an  expression  of  doubt  and  astonishment,  when 
he  turned  his  face  to  the  boy. 

It  was  a  moment  in  which  he  opened  his  mouth  as 
if  to  call  him,  but  seeing  him  so  careless  and  so  little 
concerned  regarding  what  passed  on  behind  his  shoul- 
ders, he  pui-suod  his  reading.  As  he  progressed,  his 
eves  became  animutedj  curiositjr  and  interest  appeai-ed 


be  youth, 
ed  in  hia 
eading  it, 
the  work, 
shop  and 
isked  him: 
I  with  his 

a  to  choose 

beautiful 
le  reading 
i  stopped, 
i  standing 
door,  and 
ling  an  air 
aighthave 
easily  per- 
lent,  when 

mouth  as 
d  so  little 
his  shoul- 
•essed,  his 
tappeai-ed 


tJNA  T^TTERA  ANONIMA.  26 

"Dovreste  copiarmi  questo,"  riprose  il  giovine,  mo&- 
trandogli  un  pezzo  di  carta  ch'  ei  volgeva  fra  le  dita. 
Teniisien  vi  gettu  un  colpo  d'^  oochio  scnza  logfrei'o  e 
solo  per  assicurarsi  dclla  quantity  del  Invoro.  l^opo 
questo  primo  esame  uscito  dalla  bottoga,  trntto  il 
giovine  dinnanzi  al  quadro,  gli  domand«'): 

"Quale  specie  di  carattere  vxioi?"  e  col  dito  gl'  indi- 
cava  i  differenti  modelli. 

II  ragazzo  lo  guavdava  ed  in  risposta  gli  disse  di 
farlo  in  quel  carattere  che  costava  :ncno.  Terniwlen 
and6  a  sedersi,  prepar6  un  bel  foglio  di  carta  da  lette- 
re,  tempero  una  penna  nuova  e  coniincio  la  lettura  del 
manoscritto.  Percorse  poche  lineo  si  fermo,  ed  alz(') 
gli  occhi  sul  monello  ch'  era  rimasto  inpicdlcoUespal- 
le  appoggiate  ad  uno  degli  stipiti  della  bottega,  e  cho 
iucrocicchiate  le  braccia  e  le  gambe  lischiava  un'  ariet- 
ta con  variazioni  di  sua  invenzlone.  Chiunque  avesse 
attentamente  osservato  gli  occhi  diTemisienfacilraente 
vi  avrebbe  rimarcato  un'  espressione  di  sorpresa  e  di 
dubbio  nel  uiomento  in  cui  volgeva  la  testa  verso  il 
ragazzo. 

Fuwi  persino  un  moniento  in  cui  apri  la  bocca  per 
chiamarlo,  ma  vedendolo  cosi  tspensierato  e  cosl  poco 
occupato  di  quanto  accadeva  diotro  di  lui,  riprese  a 
leggere.  Mano  a  mano  per6  ch'  egli  progrediva  nella 
lettura,  il  suo  occhio  si  rianimava,  la  curiosity  e  1'  in- 
teresse  si  dipingevano  sul  sua  volto,  sembrava  ch'  ei 


26  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTBR. 

in  his  face,  it  seemed  that  he  was  trying  to  solve  a 
problem  which  required  all  the  effort  of  his  imagina- 
tion. 

The  boy  continued  to  whistle  as  a  lark,  and  Temi- 
sien  did  not  mind  it 

Having  taken  the  pen,  he  examined  it,  putting  it  be- 
tween him  and  the  light,  and  already  dipping  in  the 
ink  and  flourishing  it,  was  ready  to  trace  the  first  let- 
ter, when  suddenly  be  entered  into  a  new  and  different 
order  of  idcjis.  Hesitation  succeeded  the  interest  with 
which  he  h  ad  read  those  li  nes.  Evidently  he  struggled 
between  the  mechanical  work  of  his  profession  and  the 
appreciation  of  the  writing  he  had  under  his  eyes.ITer- 
nisien's  intelligence  was  not  bright ;  constantly  closed 
in  the  narrow  circle  of  .•,  specialty,  which  did  not  re- 
quire any  effort  of  imagination,  he  confined  himself  to 
the  form  of  the  thoughts  without  trying  to  penetrate 
them.  He  was  like  those  materialistic  philosopher 
to  whom  the  creature  hides  the  creator,  and  inasmuch 
as  misfortune  brings  always  the  sure  effect  of  reviving 
conviction  in  men  who  are  suffering,  the  more  his 
name  was  spurned,  the  more  he  exaggerated  his  own 
importance.  Of  all  his  sufferings  he  had  formed  a 
sort  of  religion  of  which  he  was  the  martyr.  But  if 
in  his  poor  brain  reason  had  darkened  itself  to  such  an 
extent,  his  soul  had  kept  its  candor  and  all  its  primi- 
tive uprightness.      Straightforward  with  his  custom- 


to  solve  a 
i  imagina- 

md  Terni- 

tting  it  be- 
ng  in  the 
e  first  let- 
id  different 
terestwith 
5  struggled 
ion  and  the 
eyes.I  Ter- 
itly  closed 
iid  not  re- 
himself  to 
penetrate 
lilosophers 
.  inasmuch 
)£  reviving 
more  his 
i  his  own 
formed  a 
.  But  if 
to  such  an 
its  primi- 
is  custom- 


tJNA  LETTERA  ANOIJIMA. 


97 


cercasse  d'  indovinare  un  enigma  il  ((uale  richiedesso 
tatti  gli  sforzi  della  sua  imniaginazione. 

II  ragazzo  continuava  a  fischiare  come  un  merlo. 
Temisien  non  vi  faceva  attenzione. 

Presa  la  penna,  1'  esamino  situandolt  fra  lui  e  la  luce 
e  dopo  averla  bagnataneirinchiostro,gi{l  pronto  atrac- 
ciare  la  prima  lettera  la  dondolava  sopra  il  foglio  di 
carta,  quando  di  botto  sembro  entrasse  in  un  nuovo 
ordine  d'  idee.     Alia  premura  coUa  quale  aveva  letto 
quelle  righe  successe  1'  esitazione.      Evidcntemente  ei 
lottava  fra  1'  atto  manuale  delja  sua  professione  e  1'  ap- 
prezzamento  morale  dello  scritto  die  aveva  sott'  occhi. 
L'  intelligenza  di  Ternisien  non  era  molto  vivida;  con- 
stantemente  rinchiusa  nello  stretto  circolo  di  una  spe- 
ciality che  non  domandava  alcun  sforzo  d'  immagina- 
zione,  essa  si  era  feimata  alia  forma  del-pensiero  senza 
studiarsi  di  penetrarlo.     Egli  era  simile  a  quel  filosoti 
materialisti  ai  quali  la  creatura  nasconde  il  creatore,  e 
siccome  la  sventura  ha  per  effetto  sicuro  di  ravvivare 
la  convinzione  in  coloro  che  soffrono,  piti  il  suo  noma 
veniva  disprezzato,  piii  egli  esageravasi  la  sua  impor- 
tanza.     Dei  suoi  patimcnti  ne  aveva  fatto  una  specie 
di  religione  di  cui  egli  era  il  martire.     Se  per6  nel  suo 
povero  cervello  il  ragionamento  si  era  oscurato  a  que- 
sto  punto,  la  sua  anima  aveva  eonservato  tutto  il  can- 
dore  e  tutta  la  sua  primitiva  onestA.      Coscienzioso 
coi  suoi  avventori,  egli  lo  era  egualmente  secu  stesso. 


i'&'fcaWS'^uAt'-' 


i\ 


28  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEB. 

ere,  he  was  also  straightforward  with  himself.  His 
pride  as  professor  was  mortified  at  descending  to  the 
position  of  an  employee,  and  he  only  yielded  to  ne- 
cessity every  time  that  for  a  moderate  price  ho  wrote 
insignificant  lines;  but  he  often  shuddered  when  lie 
thought  that  he  might  lend  the  aid  of  his  pen  to  sin- 
ful words,  and  feared  that  he  who  was  incapable  of 
telling  a  lie  even  for  his  own  advantage,  sometimes 
may  be  an  instrument  of  calumny  and  falsehood.  This 
has  been  precisely  the  secret  feeling  he  intended  to 
express  when  he  had  said,  compelling  me  to  leave  this 
place  they  will  perhaps  confer  a  favor  on  me.  His 
impossibility  to  exercise  any  othcsr  profession  obliged 
him  to  remain  in  this.  The  writing  to  be  copied  was 
of  such  a  nature  as  to  inspire  him  with  reflections  very 
embarrassing  to  his  conscience. 

In  spite  of  his  cleverness  in  interpreting  the  hand- 
writing in  presence  of  those  lines,  he  remained  uncer- 
tain, and  convicted  of  impotence  in  the  same  way  as 
an  academician  stands  in  the  presence  of  a  hierogly- 
phical  inscription.  His  position  was  graver  and  more 
serious  and  painful.  Of  what  interest  in  liistory 
indeed  is  a  false  statement  or  mistake?  What  is  false- 
hood or  truth  to  those  who  are  dead,  and  even  to 
those  who  are  alive?  In  his  case  instead,  although  he 
did  not  know  by  whom  the  letter  had  been  written, 
and  to  whom  it  was  addressed,  nor  what  sincere  or 


3lf.  His 
iiig  to  the 
led  to  ne- 
ho  wrote 

when  ho 
)en  to  sin- 
iapablo  of 
sometimes 
od.  This 
tended  to 

leave  this 
me.  His 
m  obliged 
iopied  was 
jtions  very 

the  hand- 
tied  uncer- 
aie  way  as 
\  liiei'ogly- 
r  and  more 

in  liistovy 
liat  is  false- 
id  even  to 
ilthough  he 
Q  written, 
sincere  or 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


99 


n  suo  orgoglio  di  profcssore  si  rassegnava  alia  parte 
d'  impiegato  o  cedeva  alia  nct'cssitA  tulte  le  volte  che 
per  un  niodico  prezzo  egli  scriveva  delle  linee  insigni- 
ticanti,  raaspessosi  spaventava  nel  pensare  ch'  egli  per 
avventura  potcsse  prestare  il  concoi-so  delhi  sua  penna 
a  colpevoli  parole,  e  temova  ch'  egli  11  qniilo  oia  im-a 
pace  di  dire  una  biigia  anchc  nel  suo  piopiio  intorosso 
potesso  qualchivol'aservire  d'ins(rinnoiito  alia  biigia 
ed  alia  calunnia.     Questo  appunto  era  stiito  il  sogroto 
sentiraento  che  avevacreduto  di  esprimere  e  di  far 
comprendere  al  suo  amico    Duverrior,  allorquando- 
aveva  detto:  e  costrlngendomi  a  sloggiav  di  qui  forse  m  ! 
fwrebbero  unfeaorv'    L'  irapossibilitfV  in  cui  si  trovava 
di  poter  esercitare  un'  altra  differente  professione  lo 
face^a  continuare  nella  stessa,     Lo  scritto  ch'  egli  do- 
vevacopiaro  era  di  tale  natura  da  inspirargli  riflessioni 
imbarazzantissime  per  la  sua  coscienza.     Non  ostanto 
la  sua  ability  nell'  interpretaro  le  scritture,  ei  dinnanzi 
a  quel  caratteri  rimase  irresolute  e  convinto  d'  impo- 
tenza  come  un'  accaderaico  innanzi  a  dei  geroglltici. 
La  sua  posizione  pero  era  molto  piii  grave  e  penosa. 
Che  cosa  h,  infine  dei  conti,  nella  storia  una  data  falsa 
o  un  errore  ?    VeritA  o  bugia  che  cosa  importa  a  colo- 
ro  che  sono  morti  ed  anche  a  coloro  che  vivono  ?    In 
questa  circostanza  invece  quantunque  egli  nh  conosces- 
se  da  chi  la  lettera  fosse  stata  scritta,  ne  a  chi  fosse  di- 
retta,  ne  qual'  interesse  sincero  o  perfido  1'  avesse  det- 


so  AN  ANONTMOU8  LK1T14S. 

perfidious  interest  Iiod  dictated  it,  lie  was  afraid  in 
thinlcing  of  tlie  consequencea  that  letter  might  bring. 
The  wretched  man,  lost  in  this  labyrintli,  had  vainly 
asked  advice  of  his  uhuuI  counsellor.  He  rolled  be- 
tween the  thumb  and  forcHnger  of  tlie  left  hand  a 
pinch  of  snuff  which  he  took  from  time  to  time;  he 
applied  to  the  gift  of  writing  the  same  apologue  Kso- 
pus  had  applied  to  the  speech,  and  allowing  himself 
to  be  carried  away  by  tlie  strength  of  his  learned  di- 
gi'essions  and  by  his  classical  remembrances,  iu  a 
solemn  voice  he  cried: 

"If  like  Achilles'  spear  wliu-h  cured  the  wound 
made  by  itself ! " 

"What  is  the  matter?"  asked  the  boy,   turning 
around,  "have  you  finished  perchance  1" 
"I  have  not  yet  began." 

"Oh I  perhaps  you  do  not  know  how  to  write,  or 
are  you  waiting  for  some  one  to  h<'ip  yoa  Give  mo 
back  my  paper  or  hn.sten,  1  am  it?.  ».  Imrry  and  somtv 
body  is  waiting  for  me." 

"Perhaps  the  same  pei-son  who  gave  you  this  let- 
ter?" asked  Temisien. 

"No,  but  some  of  my  friends  with  whom  I  was  play- 
ing marbles,  I  left  my  tum  to  another  boy  who  does 
not  play  as  well  as  I,  and  having  ten  cents  in  the  game, 
I  would  be  glad  to  know  how  business  was  standing. 
Quickly,  move  around,  double  quick,  as  I  have  yet 


ITNA  LETTEIU  ANOMMA.  81 

tata  egli  si  spaventava  pensando  aUe  consequence 
ch'  essa  dovova  produrro.  II  poveretto  perduto  in 
quel  dedalo  invano  aveva  domandato  avviso  al  euo  or- 
dinario  consigliere.  Ei  raggirava  fra  1'  indice  cd  il 
poUice  delln  niano  sinistra  una  prosa  di  tubacco  che 
aspirava  di  tempo  in  tempo,  applioava  alia  scrittura 
r  apologo  di  Esopo  sulla  parola,  e  lasciandosi  traspor- 
tnre  dalla  foga  dello  sue  dotte  digressioni  e  dai  suoi 
clasaici  ricordi  g^id(^  in  tuono  solonne: 

"Se  al  pari  della  lancia  di  Achille,  cho  sanava  le  fe- 
rite  da  lei  fatte  1" 

"Che  c'  6,"  disse  voltandosi  il  ragazzo,  "avete  forse 
finito?" 

"Non  ho  ancora  principiato." 

**0h  1  Forse  che  non  sapete  sen  vera,  owero, 
aspettate  che  vengano  ad  aiutarvi,  rispose  1'  altro. 
Restituitcmi  il  foglio,  oppure  sbrigatevi,  ho  premura, 
sono  atteso." 

"Forse  dalla  persona  che  vi  consegn6  la  lettera?" 
domand6  Temisien. 

"No,  ma  dai  miei  compagni  coi  quali  giocava  alle 
piastrelle.  Ho  lasciato  il  mio  turno  ad  un  ragazzo  che 
non  t  ;a  cosi  bene  ed  avendo  dieci  soldi  impegnatinella 
partita  sarei  contento  di  sapcre  come  vadano  gli  afiari. 
Presto,  al  galoppo,  giacchfe  ho  anche  un'  altra  corsa  da 
fare;  dubitate  forse  del  pagamento  ?  Ecco  sedici  soldi 
anticipati,  non  mercanteggio  io,  per6  ho  premura  e 


iMiii 


mm 


82  AN  ANONYMOUS  I.ETTRR. 

another  errand  to  do;  an^ you  perhaps  fiightened  about 
the  payments  Hero  it  i«,  I  pay  you  Hixtcon  cents  in 
advance.  I  do  not  wrangle,  but  1  am  in  a  huiTy  and 
yyj.  •"M8t  bo  quick." 

Without  bcui<,'  moved,  without  sharing  in  this  im- 
patience, the  old  writer  Kald  to  the  btiy: 
"Who  sent  you  on  this  errand  <" 
The  boy  looking  at  him,  answered: 
♦'Somebody,"  and  then  turned  up  his  nose  and  shick 
out  his  tongue  and  his  lower  lip.        Any  other  man 
would  have  punished  this  very  disrespectful  act,   but 
the  kind  old  man  renewed  the  question. 

"If  formerly  I  answered  you  somebody,"  said  the 
boy,  "it  is  quitc!  clear  that  you  ought  to  know  no  more 
than  that.  What  else  i  They  gave  mo  the  letter  with 
the  instructions  to  have  it  copied  by  a  public  writer  ; 
they  gave  me  the  money  and  1  wont  away  to  execute 
their  orders.  I  pray  you,  why  then  do  you  not  do 
your  duty?  That's  all.  Woijfd  you  like  me  to 
whistle  you  another  air  <  Perhaps  it  will  please  you," 
and  he  began  to  whistle  a  ballad  which  was  then  very 

"When  love  was  constant,  etc." 
Temisien  again  had  put  before  him  on  the  table, 
which  was  his  desk,  the  letter  and  the  paper,  and  had 
again  taken  up  the  pen.  It  was  not  the  desire  of 
earaing  the  sixteen  cents,  magnificent  recompense 
for  a  few  minutes'  work,  that  had  decided  him  to  do 


KMtfaMl 


mxaam^ 


[  about 
onta  in 
ry  and 

bis  im- 


ci  sttick 
ui*  nmn 
st,  but 

aid  the 
10  more 
er  with 
writer ; 
execute 
nut  do 
me  to 
e  you," 
len  very 


e  table, 
and  had 
esire  of 
)mpen8o 
en  to  do 


UNA  I.KTTEUA  ANONIMA.  88 

bisognu  oho  non  pcrdiute  tempo,  e   vi   shrijjhiiito." 
Scnza  commuovorsi,  e  sonz'  nffatto  dividero  queata 
impiizienza,  11  vecchio  scriviuio,  gli  doniand6  t 
"Chi  ti  Iia  d«to  qncstii  coiiiinis.si()no  'i  " 
II  ri>;<n/,zo  gimrdandolo  rispoae  "qualcheduno"  e 
poi  gli  fece  una  smorfia  arricciando  il  naso  e  spingen- 
do  il  8UO  labbro  inferiore  e  la  sua  lingua.     Ogni  altra 
persona  avrobbe  punito  que,st'  atto  poco  rispettoao; 
il  buon'  uomo  pero  tranquillanu'nte  rinnovo  la  sua 
domanda. 

"Se  poco  prima  vi  ho  rispo.sto  qualcheduno,  h  cosa 
chiara  che  vol  non  doveto  sapcrne  dippiu.  Mi  hanno 
dato  la  lettera  dicendomi  cho  la  faccssi  co[)iure  da  uno 
bcrivano  pubblico,  mi  hanno  dato  del  danaro  e  sono 
venuto,  vi  pago,  a  voi  di  fare  il  vostro  dovere.  Ecco 
tuttc*  I  Volete  che  vi  fischi  un'  arietta  ?  Forse  vi  pia- 
cerA,''  e  comincio  a  fischiare  una  ballata  allora  in  vo^a : 

"  Allorche  1'  amore  mostravasi  coustante,"  etc. 
Temisien  suUa  tavolu  che  gli  serviva  da  scrittoio  avea  di 
bel  nuovo  posto  dinnanzi  a  lui  la  copja  ed  il  foglio  di 
carta  ed  aveva  ripreso  la  pcnna.  Non  era  <rvk  il 
desiderio  di  lucrare  i  sedici  soldi,  ricompensa  magni- 
fica  per pochi  minuti  di  la^oro,  che  lo  aveva  deciso 
pero  aveva  fatto  due  facilisslme  riflessioni  che  aveva- 
nodileguato  i  suoi  scrupoli;  prlmicramente,  quelloch'e- 


« 


84  .AN   ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

it.  He  had  made  two  very  easy  reflections  which  had 
overcome  all  his  scruples:  firstly,  that  what  he  was  go- 
ing to  write  might  be  as  well  true  as  false;  secondly, 
that  if  he  would  refuse,  a  less  scrupulous  colleague 
would  do  it.  It  must  be  said  that  he  was  much  moved 
by  curiosity,  and  he  was  waiting  for  the  time  in  which, 
according  to  the  instructions  given  (without  doubt)  to 
the  boy,  he  would  have  to  write  the  name  and  address 
of  the  person  to  whom  the  letter  was  addressed.  Nev- 
ertheless, before  beginning  to  write,  he  asked: 

"Have  you  read  this  letter?" 

"I  ?  I  can't  read.  I  do  not  know  the  names  of  the 
letters  and  I  would  be  very  sorry  to  be  a  learned  man 
as  you  are." 

"Why  so?" 

"A  nice  question  I  Because  you  would  not  have 
had  the  pleasure  of  making  my  acquaintance,  and  I 
that  of  telling  you  that  you  would  do  better  to  move 
your  pen  more  than  your  tongue.  The  person  who 
gave  me  this  paper  asked  me,  before  aU,  if  I  was  able 
to  read,  and  I  answered  no.  Then  I  received  my  in- 
structions with  three  francs,  of  which  I  shall  give  you 
sixteen  cents,  if  you  make  haste,  and  you  instead  are 
going  slow  as  a  snail." 

Ternisien,  seeing  that  he  would  not  obtain  any  far- 
ther information,  began  his  work.  He  had  so  atten- 
tively read  and  weighed  every  word  of  the  paper  that 
he  had  almost  learned  it  by  heart.      Every  word  ex- 


I 


ti^. 


.AMmimm'i^rmmm^Mm. 


^^F^ 


3hhad 
.-asgo- 
ondly, 
league 
moved 
(vhich, 
ibt)to 
ddress 
Nev- 


of  the 
dman 


t  have 
and  I 
move 
in  who 
as  able 
my  in- 
ve  you 
sad  are 

ly  fur- 
)  atteu- 
ir  that 
>rd  ex. 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  36 

gli  era  per  scrivere  poteva  essere  cos\  bene  una  bugia 
come  una  veritj\;  e  i)oi,  ritiutandosi  egli,  un  altro  colle- 
ga  si  sarebbe  mostrato  meno  scrupuloso.  Bisogna 
anche  confessare  ch'  egli  era  vivamento  soUeticato  dal- 
la  curiosity,  ed  aspettava  il  momento  in  cui,  sull'  indi- 
cazione  senz'  alcun  dubbio  glA,  data  al  ragazzo,  egli 
scriverebbe  il  nome  e  1'  indirizzo  della  persona  alia 
quale  era  diretto  quell'  avviso.  NuUameno  prima  di 
cominciare  a  scrivere,  ei  domand6 : 

"  Hai  tu  letto  questa  lettera  ? " 

"lo !  6  che  so  leggere,  io  ?  noh  conosco  il  nome  del- 
le  lettere,  e  mi  rlncrescerebbe  molto  di  essere  uu  uomo 
dotto  come  voi . . . . " 

"Perch^?" 

Bella  domanda,  perchfe  n^  voi  avreste  avuto  51  pia- 
cere  di  vedermi,  ne  io  quello  di  dirvi  che  farcste  me- 
glio  di  far  correre  la  vostrapenna  chela  vostra  lingua. 
La  persona  che  mi  ha  dato  cotesto  foglio  mi  doman- 
d6  prima  di  tutto  se  sapessi  leggere  ed  io  le  risposi  di 
no.  AUora  ho  ricevuto  le  mie  istruzioni  con  tre  lire, 
suUa  qual  somtna  vi  daro  sedici  soldi  se  vi  spiccerete, 
e  voi  invece  andate  a  passo  di  lumaca. 

Ternisien  vedendo  qualmente  uon  avrebbe  ottenuto 
maggiori  schiarimenti  pose  mano  al  lavoro.  Egli  ave- 
va  con  tanta  atteuzione  lette  e  pesate  tutte  le  parole  del 
foglio  che  quasi  ne  aveva  imparato  a  mente  il  contenu- 
to.     Ogni  motto  esprimeva  fatti  cosi  serii,  rivelazio- 


-"W^ 


m 


hi 


86  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER, 

pressed  such  serious  facts,  such  important  revelations, 
that  they  had  engraved  themselves  on  his  memory  and 
had  taken  away  any  possible  distraction.  Contrary  to 
his  habit,  he  copied  the  paper  without  a  single  mis- 
take. As  soon  as  ho  had  done,  he  folded  the  sheet, 
and  turning  to  the  boy: 

"Did  they  give  you  the  name  and  address  to  which 
it  is  going?" 

"Yes,"  answered  he,  extending  his  hand  on  the  ta- 
ble with  celerity  and  without  being  noticed,  "yes,  it 
is  written  with  a  pencil  on  a  piece  of  paper  which  is  in 
the  left  pocket  of  my  waistcoat,  but  you  must  not 
know  it." 

At  the  same  time,  he  took  the  letter  and  jumping 
backward  moved  to  leave  the  shop. 

"Some  other  one  is  going  to  scribble  this  address,  " 
he  added ;  "I  have  my  ordei-s." 

"Give  me  back  that  letter,"  asked  Ternisien  ;  "so 
many  precautions  do  not  mean  anything  good." 

"No,"  answered  the  boy,  "I  will  not  give  it  back, 
and  even  you  will  return  to  me  the  copy  I  have  brought 
you,  or  you  will  tear  it  in  pieces  in  my  own  presence. 
This  order  has  been  strictly  given  to  me." 

"Even  tliat!"  exclaimed  the  Avriter,  clasping  his 
hands.  "Ah!  from  this  time  I  swear  nevermore  to  copy 
anonymous  letters.  They  surely  intend  to  destroy 
the  traces  of  this  one,  and  I  ought  to  have  refused  it." 

"What  a  stupid  old  man,"  said  the  boy;  "he  looks 


ilations, 
oiy  and 
traryto 
:le  mis- 
3  sheet, 

)  which 

the  iiir 

'yes,  it 
ch  is  in 
1st  not 

imping 

Jress, " 

ti;  "so 

b  back, 
rought 
eseuce. 

ig  his 
o  copy 
Jesti'oy 
mi  it." 
9  looks 


ii 
J 


UNA  LETTRKA  ANONIMA.  37 

ni  oosi  importanti  ch'  essa  si  era  scolpita  nel  sue  spi- 
rlto  e  ne  aveva  discacciato  qualsiasi  possibile  distra- 
zione.  Contrariamente  alia  sua  abitudine  copio  il  fo- 
glio  senz'  errori.  Finite  il  lavoro,  piegata  la  letlera 
si  voltu  dal  lato  del  ragazzo  : 

"Ti  hanno  dato  il  nome  e  1'  indirizzo  dove  va  spe- 
dita?"  gli  domandd. 

"•Si,"  rispose  questi,  allungando  con  destrezza  e 
scnz'  cssere  osservato  la  maiio  suUa  tavola,  "si,  sta 
stritto  con  matita  sii  di  un  pezzo  di  carta  che  tmvasi 
qui  nella  tasca  sinistra  del  mio  pancioito,  ma  voi  non 
lo  saprete." 

Cio  dicendo,  affeiT6  la  lettera,  e  facendo  un  salto 
indieti'o  usci  dalla  bottega. 

"  Altri  deve  scarabocchiare  questo,"  egli  .soggiunse, 
"ho  le  mie  istruzioni." 

"Rendimi  la  lettera,"  esclamo  Ternisien,  "tante 
precauzioni  non  presagiscono  nulla  di  buono,  rendimi 
la  lettera." 

"No,"  rispose  il  ragazzo,  "non  ve  la  restituir^,  in- 
vece  voi  mi  restituireto  la  brutta  copia  che  vi  ho  por- 
tata,  ov\ero  la  strapperete  in  mia  presenza,  m  e  stato 
formalmente  raccomandato  di  agire  cosl." 

"  Anche  questo  ! "  gridd  lo  scrivano,  congiungendo 
ambo  le  mani.  "  Ah  !  d'  ora  in  poi  giuro  di  mai  piii 
copiare  lettere  anonime.  Senza  dubbio  si  vuole  di- 
struggere  la  traccia  di  questa,  avrei  dovuto  rifiutare." 

"Che  veccbio  scimunito!"  mormor6  il  monello, 


:M 


88  AN  ANONTMOUS  LETTER, 

as  if  he  were  saying  his  prayers.  Well,  then,  good 
man,  you  must  come  to  a  decision.  Tear  up  the  paper 
or  you  will  not  get  your  money."  And  already  the 
sixteen  cents  from  the  table  had  returned  to  his  hands. 
Searching  on  the  table  for  the  paper,  which  in  the 
tii-st  movement  he  had  pushed  and  mixed  with  others, 
Ternisien  tore  it  in  a  thousand  pieces  and  threw  them 
in  the  face  of  the  boy,  saying  to  him : 
"Away  with  you !  young  rascal." 
"A  rascal  ?  Yes,  but  not  a  thief, "  replied  the  boy ; 
"here  is  your  cash."  And  taking  his  aim,  he  threw 
the  eight  two-cent  pieces  into  the  big  pocket  which 
yawned  at  the  side  of  the  writer's  coat,  and  in  which 
they  fell  as  in  a  ravine.  He  then  retired,  walking 
backward  and  laughing  at  the  ex-professor,  and  bold 
and  impudent,  went  away  like  a  sparrow  who  laughs 
at  those  who  try  to  catch  him. 

Ternisien  for  a  while  remained  in  deep  meditation. 
At  last  he  got  up,  put  his  papers  in  order,  took  with 
him  a  sheet  of  paper,  shut  his  office,  and  crossing  the 
courtyard,  went  to  speak  with  his  neighbor  who  was 
watering  his  camelUas. 

The  boy,   faithfully  following  the  orders  he  had 
received,  brought  the  letter  to  another  public  writer 
and  then  posted  it.     It  was  addressed : 
Julius  Valabert,  Esq., 

Auditor  of  the  State  Council, 

£ue  de  Lille,  84. 


en,  good 
he  paper 
eady  the 
is  hands. 
li  in  the 
h  others, 
3W  them 


bhe  boy ; 
le  threw 
st  which 
jx  which 
walking 
nd  bold 
»  laughs 

litation. 
ok  with 
sing  the 
vhowaa 

he  had 
!  writer 


>,  84. 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  89 

"  sembra  che  si  confessi.  Via  brav'  uomo  bisogna  do- 
cidersi  e  strappare  la  carta,  o  non  avrete  il  denaro  ; " 
e  gik  i  sedici  soldi  dallu  tavola  erano  ritornati  nella  sua 
mano.  Cercata  sul  tavolino  la  carta  che  nel  primo 
movimcnto  aveva  respinta  e  mescolata  colle  altre,  Ter- 
nisien  lu  lacor6  in  cento  framiuenti  e  la  gett6  nel  viso 
del  ragazzo,  dicendogli : 

"  Vattene  monello  1 " 

"Monello  si,  ma  non  ladro,"  grid6  quest'  ultimo, 
"ecco  i  noccioli"  e,prendendo  di  mira  il  punto  che  vole- 
va  colpire,lanci6  gli  otto  pezzi  da  due  soldi  nell'  enorme 
tasca,che  sbadigliava  al  fianco  dell'  abito  dello  scrivano, 
nella  quale  cadder6  come  in  un  precipizio. 

Camminando  all'  indietro  si  allontano,  beffando 
1'  ex-professore,  e  parti  disinvolto  e  sfacciato  a  mo'  di 
un  passerotto  che  si  ride  di  colui  che  cerca  di  pren- 
derlo. 

'Temisien  per  un  momento  rimase  in  profonda  me- 
ditazione.  Da  ultimo  si  alz6,  pose  in  ordine  le  sue 
carte,  prese  con  lui  un  foglio,  chiuse  la  bottega  e  tra- 
versando  il  cortile  ando  a  ciarlare  col  vicino  che  inaf- 
fiava  le  sue  camelie. 

Dal  canto  suo  il  ragazzo  eseguendo  fedelmente  gli 
ordini  ricevuti,  portt!)  la  letteru  ad  un  altro  scrivano 
pubblico,  e  poi  la  gett6  alia  posta.     Essa  era  diretta  : 
Al  Signor  Giulio  Valabert, 

Auditore  pvesso  il  Consiglio  di  Stato, 

Via  di  Lilla,  34. 


W  AN   ANONTTvioUS  LETTER. 

II. 

THE  LOVERS. 

What  we  have  nan-ated  is,  in  a  certain  way,  the 
prologue  of  our  tale.  We  must  go  back  a  little  t« 
present  to  our  readers  the  principal  persons  who  will 
hgure  m  this  story.  And  to  begin,  we  will  introduce 
thein  to  a  house  in  Fjrstemberg  street,  in  the  most 
distant  part  of  St.  Germain's  thoroughfare. 

The  apartment  in  the  second  story  is  neither  rich 
nor  luxurious ;  there  one  does  not  see  expensive  furni- 
ture, nor  rich  curtains,  nor  costly  bric-a-brac,— in  the 
parlor  only  a  looking-glass,  in  the  windows  'plain 
cotton  curtains,  some  easy  chairs  but  not  a  sofa,  a  bare 
ceilmg  and  a  simple  carpet,  gi-een  like  the  wall  paper 
of  the  room.     The  only  object  which  seemed  of  any 
value  was  a  piano  of  the  newest  fashion,  and  near 
which  were  piled  many  books  of  songs  and  complete 
operas.     In  spite  of  the  modest  value  of  the  objects 
which  furnished  this  principal  room,  the  good  taste 
which  had  presided  over  the  harmony  of  the  whole 
gaVe  to  it  an  aspect  of  elegance,  and  it  could  easily 
be  surmised    that  this  so  clean  and  so    well-kept 
apartment  belonged  to  a  lady. 

In  fact,  near  the  window,  before  a  tapestry  frame, 
a  beautiful  young  perscm  was  seated,  hastily  finishing 
a  very  pretty  piece  of  work.     She  was  dressed  in 


a  way,  the 
a  little  to 
18  who  will 
I  introduce 
1  the  most 

either  rich 
sive  ftrnii- 
«, — ^in  the 
5W8'  plain 
afa,  a  bare 
fail  paper 
ed  of  any 
and  near 
complete 
le  objects 
ood  taate 
;he  whole 
lid  easily 
well-kept 

y  frame, 
finishing 
■essed  in 


UNA  LKTTERA  ANONIMA.  41 

II. 

GLI   AMANTI. 

Quanto  abbiamo  racoontato  ^  per  cos\  dire  il  prolo- 
**'  le  >8tra  storia.  Convier" '"'Uetreggiare  qual- 
cuv  pocv.  .iir  conoscere  ai  nostk  'nj^iori  i  principali 
attori  che  figureranno  in  questa  novella,  o  per  comin- 
ciare  lo  introdnrremo  in  una  casa  delia  via  Furetem- 
berg  nel  fondo  del  piii  lontano  quailiore  del  subborgo 
San  Germano. 

L'  appartamento  del  secondo  piano  non  e  ricco,  nh 
suntuoso,  non  vi  si  vedono  mobili  di  lusso,  ne  splen- 
dide  cortine,  n^  preziose  bagatelle.  Nella  sala  un  solo 
specchio,  alle  finestre  delle  semplici  (;ortinc  di  mus 
solo,  qualche  poltrona  ma  non  canape,  un  soffitto  nudo 
ed  un  semplicissimo  tappeto  verde  al  pari  del  fondo 
della  tapezzeria  in  carta.  L'  unico  oggetto  di  lusso  che 
sembrava  avesse  un  valore  intrinseco  era  un  piano- 
forte della  forma  la  piii  moderna  e  vicino  al  quale  era- 
no  ammucchiati  quaderni  di  musica  ed  intieri  spartiti. 
Non  ostante  il  modesto  valore  dei  diflferenti  oggetti  che 
adobbavano  quella  camera  principale,  il  buon  gusto 
che  aveva  presieduto  all'  aimonia  dell'  assieme  dava  ai 
suo  aspetto  una  specie  di  eleganza,  e  facilmente  indo- 
vinavasi  come  quell'  appartamento  cos\  netto  e  ben 
tenuto  fosse  occupato  da  una  donna. 

Difatti  presso  la  finestra,  innanzi  ad  un  telaio  di  ta- 
pezzcria,  una  bella  giovine  seduta  terminava  in  fretta 


^^  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

white,    and    the  simplicity  of  her  toilet  harmonized 
thoroughly  with  that  of  the  place  in  which  she  lived. 
Her  long,  dark  eyebrows,  lowered  upon  her  work, 
rose  only  at  intervals,  and  then  her  beai  tiful  dark  eyes 
ran  to  the  clock,  the  hands  of  which  seemed  to  move 
too  quickly  for  her.  Her  hand«,  of  a  wonderful  white- 
ness, could  have  served  as  a  model  to  a  portrait  painter 
if  the  extremities  of  the  fingers  had  been  thinner.    Her 
neck,  finely  shaped,  was  of  perfect  form  and  beauty, 
and  imparted  grace  and  flexibility  to  every  movement 
of  the  head.     Finally  the  moment  arrived  when  the 
young  gu-l  consulted  the  clock  with  pleasure  and  cut 
the  last  thread  of  the  tapestry, 
r  Getting  up  from  the  chair  and  giving  a  hist  glance 
at  the  whole  of  her  work,  she  rang.     An  old  servant 
appeared. 

"  Marion,"  she  said  to  her  with  a  joy  which  sparkled 
in  her  eyes  ml  was  evident  in  her  voice,  "at  last  this 
work  is  finished.     What  do  you  think  of  it  ? " 

Marion  approved  with  a  majestic  air,  and  struck 
with  the  brightness  of  the  colors  and  the  exquisite 
taste  with  which  they  were  arranged,  exclaimed :  "It 
is  a  master-piece !  and  if  you  would  let  me  act  accord- 
ing to  my  own  fancy,  you  would  receive  a  better  price. " 
"You  know  that  every  work  is  already  sold  at  the 
same  store  and  at  the  same  price." 


intionized 
she  lived, 
ler  work, 
dark  eyes 
'.  to  move 
Pul  white- 
it  painter 
ler.  Her 
1  beauty, 
lovement 
vhen  the 
and  cut 

st  glance 
I  servant 

sparkled 
liist  this 

i  struck 
sxquisite 
ed:  "It 
;  accord- 
r  price." 
d  at  the 


tiNA  LETtERA  ANONtMA.  4S 

un  delizioso  lavoro.  Dessa  era  vcstita  di  bianco  e  la 
semplicitA  della  sua  toeletta  era  in  perfetto  accordo 
con  quel  la  del  luogo  in  cui  abitava.  Le  sue  lunghe 
brune  palpcbre  abbassate  sul  suo  lavoro  si  alzavano  le;;- 
germente  ad  intei-valli,  ed  allora  i  suoi  bogli  occhi  neri 
si  dirigevano  sul  pendolo  di  cui  la  sfera  sembrava 
procedesse  troppo  sollecita  per  lei.  Le  sue  muni  di 
una  maravigliosa  bianchezza  avrobbero  potuto  servire 
di  modello  ad  un  pittore  di  ritratti  da  donne,  se  I'estre- 
niitd  deUe  ditu  fossero  state  piii  sottili.  11  suo  collo 
era  di  una  forma  e  di  una  bellezza  finita,  o  communi- 
cava  grazia  e  pieghevolezza  a  tutti  i  movimenti  della 
testa.  Giunse  un  momento  in  cui  la  donzella  cousulto 
con  piacere  il  pendolo  e  taglio  1' ultimo  filo  della  tapez- 
zeria. 

Alzatasi,  dopo  aver  gettato  un  colpo  d'occhio  suU'as- 
sieme  del  lavoi'o,  suono.  Una  vecchia  serva  comparve. 

"Marianna,"  le  disse  con  gioia  semplicissima  ohe 
scintillava  nei  suoi  occhi  o  ncl  suono  della  sua  voce, 
"ecco  finito  questo  nuovo  lavoro,  come  lo  trovi?" 

Marianna  si  avvicino  con  ai-ia  magistrale,  mise  gli 
occhiali,  e  colpita  dulla  vivacitii,  del  color!  e  dal  gusto 
immenso  col  quale  crano  assortiti. 

"Bel  capo-lavoro,"  essaesclamo,  "se  mi  lascereste 
fare  a  modo  mio,  ne  trurreste  un  prezzo  migliore  degli 
altri?" 

"  Sai  bene,"  interruppe  la  giovine,  "come  quanto  fo  h 
gi&  veuduto  alio  stesso  magazzino  e  per  lo  stesso  prezzo." 


I 


lit 
Hi 


III 


3' 


P 


44  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

"Jews  I"  mnrniured  th«'  old  woiniin. 

"It  isn't  right,  Marion,  to  treat  in  such  a  way  kind 
pcojile  who  haA'e  procured  for  nie  a  stea<ly  and  sure 
resource,  which  Hupports  nic." 

"Oh!  upon  my  word,  if  you  would,  you  need  not 
work — -'' 

A  severe  look  stopped  the  words  of  Marion,  who, 
turning  her  eyes  in  anotht-r  direction,  replied  with 
embarrassment: 

"  I  meant  to  s]ieak  of  your  talent  in  nnisic ;  there  are 
very  few  teachers  of  your  ability,  and  when  you  used 
to  give  lessons  at  two  tlollars  each " 

"This  displeased  Julius." 

"It  is  true,"  ansAvered  tho  old  woman,  "since  then 
you  play  music  only  for  bim.  To  tell  the  truth,  I 
prefer  this  life  to  the  old  way  of  living,  always  in 
town  and  alone,  whatever  might  be  the  s^e-ason,  while 
at  pi*esent  you  do  not  go  out  any  more,  except  when 
Julius  gives  you  his  arm,  which  happens  very  seldom, 
indeed." 

A  second  look  from  the  mistress  ended  Marion's 
babble. 

While  she  spoke,  the  young  lady  had  taken  the  tap- 
estiy  from  the  frame  and  folded  it  with  great  care. 

"  Be  quick;  take  it  away  before  Julius  arrives,"  said 
the  young  woman,  "and  hide  the  frame  so  that  he 
cannot  see  it     This  is  his  hour." 


ray  kind 
ind  nave 

locd  not 

jn,  who, 
ied  with 

;hcre  are 
ou  used 


ice  th«>n 
truth,  I 
wayii  in 
n,  while 
[it  when 
seldom, 

clarion's 

the  tap- 
wire. 
es,"  said 
that  bo 


VTNA  ANONIMA  I.KTrKRA.  48 

"Dojrii  rhroi  !  "  niormoro  la  vccchiii. 

"\on  ist)\  bono,  Miui.tiina  <li  cos'i  tniltfiro  lo  hravo 
poi'sono  chc  tni  liaiiiio  prociiralo  nnii  nsorna  duralura 
0  »i(iini  cht!  sopporisco  ai  miei  biHo^rni." 

"ICh!  Dio  mio  !  So  vorrcstc  potrcsto  far  bono 
Kon/,a  di  loro. ..." 

Una  scvi'ia  oc-cliinta  arrosto  le  pjirole  di  Marianna, 
la  quale  volgendo  gli  oochi  allrovo  riprcso  con  iniba- 
raz/o : 

"Intondeva  p'lrlaro  del  vo^lro  (alcnto  sui  piano- 
forte; vi  sono  p(K-li(j  niai'slic  di'lla  vostru  t'orza,  o 
quando davalc  d<!ilc  lozioni  a  dioci  lire  I'  una. ..." 

"Qncsto  di«pi»t«'va  a  Glr.lio  !" 

"E'ver(»,"  ripr«'rte  hi  vccdua,  ^'da  qiiolP  opoca  in 
poi  fate  de'la  mu.si(;a  soiainente  per  lui.  A  dire  11 
vero,  pivfcrisco  quosto  fjencre  di  vita  all' altro,  senipre 
in  cittA  e  hoIm,  qualiiniiiio  hI  fosse  la  stiijxione,  inentre 
adesso  piu  non  uscile,  a  meno  cho  il  si<riior  Giulio  vi 
dia  il  bracoio,  cosa  cho  accadc  rarissiiuiini-nte." 

Una  scoonda  occhiata  dtlla  padi-oiui  fcce  tinire  In 
cicalatn  della  Miirianna. 

Mentre  ch'  essa  parlava,  la  signorina  aveva  staccato 
dal  telaio  il  pezzo  di  tapezzeriac  1'  aveva  piegato  con 
grande  attenzione. 

"Presto  vai  a  portnrlo.' disao  essa,  "innanzi  che 
Giulio  an'ivi,  ecco  I'  ora  alia  quale  egli  ha  1'  abitudino 
di  venire,  e  nascondi  il  telaio  in  nianiora  ch'  ei  uon  lo 
vedu." 


3   1: 


^it^^ 


f 


46  AW  ANONY5IOU8  I-ETTKB. 

"Be  careful;  MiiHt»>r  .FuliuM  doon  not  like  niyrttcry." 

*' Alas  I  God  only  knows  how  much  it  cost*  me  to 
have  u  secret  from  him." 

She  made  a  sign  and  Marion  went  ont,  leaving  her 
niiHtresH  in  deep  tliought,  thia  briot  conviTsation  hav- 
ing I  wen  sufficient  to  recall  to  her  mind  her  present 
itituation. 

Fanny  was  throe  years  old  when  she  lost  her  mother. 
Her  father,  a  teacher  in  a  provincial  town,  spared 
n<nther  pains  nor  troul)Ie  to  educate  her.  His  d(!ar  and 
only  daughter  was  always  the  Hi-st  and  Inist  among  his 
pupils.  Showing  a  decided  inclination  for  music,  a 
competent  teacher  was  given  her.  In  everything  she 
progressed  rapidly,  and  in  a  short  time  her  father  was 
able  to  see  her  as  perfect  as  he  wished  her  to  be.  She 
was  scarcely  sixteen  years  okl  when  Mr.  Dusmenil, 
satisfied  of  having  warned  her  in  general  terms  against 
the  dangei-8  which  threaten  u  maiden,  gave  her  a  free- 
dom which,  for  a  heart  naturally  tender  and  open  to 
impressions,  would  have  had  many  diingers.  Among 
other  liberties,  he  permitted  her  to  remain  long  days 
together  with  a  neighbor's  son  named  Eraest,  a 
young  man  rather  good-looking,  who  lacked  not  clev- 
erness. It  is  true  that  Mr.  Dusmenil  siw  in  Ernest, 
educated  with  his  daughter  and  until  that  time  an  in- 
nocent companion  in  her  studies  and  plays,  the  future 
husband  whom  he  secretly  destined  for  Fanny,  and, 


nyrttcry." 
isU  me  to 

iving  her 
ition  liav- 
r  present 

r  mother. 
1,  Hpured 

d(!tir  and 
mong  hiH 

music,  tt 
thing  she 
ither  was 
be.  She 
)usmenil, 
18  against 
lor  a  free- 
J  open  to 
Among 
long  days 
firaest,    a 

not  clev- 
a  Ernest, 
me  an  in- 
ihe  future 
nny,and, 


UNA  ANONI>rA  l.KnKKA.  47 

"Biidato  il  signor  Oiuiio  non  ania  i  mistori." 

*' Ahim^  i  Soh)  Iddlu  sa  ({tianto  mi  costi  1'  avcme 
pn*  hii." 

Ivsna  feco  un  cenno  a  Marianna  od  esc\  hisciando  la 
padrona  innuei'Ha  in  profoiidu  riik'ssioni,  quei^to  jorto 
coll()(jiiio  essendo  stato  sidKriei.  u  a  riehianiaro  il  pen- 
siero  suila  sua  prcsente  sitna/Ziunu. 

Fanny  avcva  tre  anni  allonpiando  pordetto  la  geni- 
trico.  Suo  pach'e  in.stitiitore  in  una  (iittil  di  provincia 
non  risparinio  no  pono,  ni*  cure  per  cducarl.i.  La  en  .i, 
hi  sua  unica  tiglia  era  seniprt;  la  migliore  e  la  ^^n  n.i 
fra  le  sue  allieve.  Mostrando  una  decisa  vocazioLO  per 
la  mtisica,  le  venni-  dato  apposito  maetf  lo.  In  tutto 
fece  ra[)idl  {)r()grt>ssl  ed  in  poco  tempo  uo  j^adri  con 
orgoglio  pott)  vederla  <]uale  la  desiderava.  Aveva 
sedici  anni  appena  ed  il  signor  Dusmenil,  contento  di 
avorla  premunita  in  termini  generali  dei  pericoli  die 
minacciano  le  zitelle,  le  lasciava  nel  rosto  una  libertA, 
cho  per  un  cuore  teneio  di  natura  e  facile  ad  impres 
sionarsi  potova  av(M'e  molti  inconvonienti.  Fra  le  al- 
tre  licenze  le  wi  permetteva  di  rimancre  giorni  intieri 
col  figlio  di  un  viciao,  a  nonie  Ernesto,  giovinetto 
assai  leggiadro  e  ihe  non  manoavA  di  spirito.  Egli  h 
vero  cho  il  signor  Dusmcp!'  vedeva  in  Ernesto  educate 
con  sua  tiglia,  e  tino  a  qu(  I  ••  po  innocente  compagno 
dei  suoi  studii  o  dei  suoi  giuoohi,  il  futuro  sposo  ch'  ei 
scgretamente  destinava  a  Fanny  e  perci6  non  disap- 


[I 


Hi 


iiu 


marriage. 


48  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTKU. 

therefoi'e,  did  not  discourage  an  intimacy  which  would 
afford  them  the  opportunity  of  mutually  knowing 
each  other.  This  time  that  which  had  been  antici- 
pated did  not  happen. 

Fanny,  in  the  presence  of  her  childhood's  friend,  ex- 
perienced no  emotion,  either  because  her  hour  had 
not  yet  arrived  or  else  because  it  is  almost  impossible 
that  true  friendship  should  change  into  love. 

The  time  was  passing  pleasantly  and  her  future 
seemed  smiling  and  flatten  ng,Avhen  she  was  overtaken 
by  u  dreadful  misfortune.  Her  father  died  almost 
suddenly,  leaving  no  fortune.  Inmost  was  then  ab- 
sent, and  his  family,  on  account  of  Fanny's  povei-t}', 
did  not  show  further  desire  to  carry  out  the  proposed 


Fanny  resolved  not  to  wait  for  Ernest's  return  and 
left,  retiring  to  an  old  rchitive's,  whose  only  assist 
ance  consisted  in  advising  her  to  employ  the  little 
money  she  yet  possessed  in  developing  her  talents  and 
in  taking  a  few  lessons  before  beginning  to  teach. 
She  soon  succeeded  in  securing  a  few  pupils,  from 
which  means,  little  by  little,  she  derived  a  certain 
amount  of  comfort. 

One  day  she  was  called  to  a  house  in  the  Ghjaimsee 
d?  Antin,  to  teach  music  to  a  young  lady  about  ten 
years  old,  named  Eliza  Saint-Gilles. 

The  family  into  which  she  was  introduced  consisted 


ag^'.l!!*f,^U^-liilW-il.H»*MWWi 


UNA  LKTl'ERA  ANONIMA.  49 

provava  una  intimittV  cho  permetteva  loro  di  mutual- 
mente  conoscersi. 

Questa  volta  per6  non  avvenne  quuiito  era  statu 
preveduto. 

Fanny  in  presenza  del  suo  aniico  d'  int'anzia  non 
provava  alcun  turbaniento,  sia  perche  non  fosse  ancora 
suonata  la  sua  ora,  sia  perche  e  cosa  quasi  del  tutto 
impossibile  die  la  veraaniiciziasi  transformi  in  amore. 

La  situazione  scorreva  placida,  ed  il  siio  t'uturo  sem- 
brava  sorridente  e  pieno  di  speranze,  quando  essa 
venne  colpita  da  una  tenibilo  sventura.  Suo  padre 
venne  a  morire  quasi  repentinamente  lasciundo  un  limi- 
tatissimo  patrimonio.  I^rnesto  in  quel  tempo  trova- 
vasi  assente  e  la  di  lui  fauiiirlia  a  cagione  della  poverta 
di  Fanny,  non  si  mostro  desitlerosa  di  realizzare  il 
progettato  matrinonio. 

.Fanny  si  decise  di  non  aspettare  il  ritorno  di  Er- 
nesto e  parti  ritirandosi  presso  una  vecchia  parente  la 
quale  per  tutta  assistenza  le  dette  il  consiglio  d'  inipie- 
gare  il  poco  denaro  clie  ancora  possedeva  nel  perfezio- 
nare  i  suoi  talcnti  e  nel  prendere  lezioni  prima  di 
cominciare  a  darne.  Presto  le  riescl  di  trovare  delle 
scol^re  pel  qual  mezzo  poco  a  poco  si  procuro  una 
comparativa  agiatezza. 

Un  giorno  ella  venne  chiamata  in  una  casa  della 
Chmmsee  d'Antin  per  inseguare  la  uiusica  ad  una  signo- 
rina  di  circa  dieci  anni  a  nonie  P^lisa  Saint-Gilles. 

La  famiglia  uella  quale  veune  introdotta  era  com- 


MiM 


60  AN  ANONVMOU8  LETTER. 

influential  people,  proud  of  their  riches.  Being  re- 
quested to  play,  she  performed  a  selection  which  en- 
raptured all  those  present.  Among  others,  a  young 
man  made  himself  conspicuous  for  his  lively  admira- 
tion, although  Fanny,  on  her  part,  paid  no  attention 
to  his  compliments.  The  following  day,  at  the  time 
of  the  lesson,  the  young  gentleman  happened  to  be  in 
the  room  and  continued  to  come  every  day,  sometimes 
at  the  beginning  and  at  other  times  at  the  end  of  it. 
His  eyes,  constantly  fixed  on  the  teacher,  forced  her  to 
blush  and  in  spite  of  herself  troubled  her.  Chance 
one  day  left  him  alone  with  Fanny  at  the  moment  in 
which  her  lesson  had  ended  and  while  her  pupil  was 
going  out  for  a  walk.  Persuaded  that  he  would  find 
little  severity  in  a  young  girl  who  was  living  alone  and 
who, on  account  of  her  profession,  was  dependent  upon 
the  public,  he  spoke  to  her  of  love  with  an  air  of  as- 
surance and  self-conceit,  and  tried  to  approach  her. 
A  gesture  full  of  dignity  forced  him  to  stop. 

"I  am  an  orphan,"  she  said  to  him;  "I  have  no 
relatives,  no  defender;  my  only  support  is  this,"  point- 
ing to  the  piano,  "and  you  are  trying  to  deprive  me 
of  it,  because  it  is  certain  that  I  should  no  longer 
dare  to  come  to  this  house." 

After  saying  these  words,  Fanny  went  out,  but  on 
reaching  home  still  aflFected  and  her  eyes  filled  with 
tears,  she  received  a  letter  in  which  Mr.  Julius  Vala- 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


51 


leing  re- 
hich  en- 
a  young 
admira- 
ittention 
the  time 
to  be  in 
metimes 
id  of  it. 
sd  her  to 
Chance 
tment  in 
iipil  was 
>uld  lind 
lone  and 
nt  upon 
ir  of  as- 
Lch  her. 

have  no 

,"  point- 

irive  me 

longer 

but  on 
ed  with 
is  Valtt- 


posta  di  pcrsonaggi  importanti  tronfi  delle  loro  ric 
chezzo.  Invitata  a  suonare  ella  esegui  un  pezzo 
ch'  estasi6  tutte  le  persone  present).  Fra  gli  altri  un 
giovine  si  fece  rimarcare  per  la  vivacity  della  sua  am- 
mirazione  senza  che  Fanpy  dal  canto  stxo  facesse  atten- 
zione  ai  suoi  complimenti.  L'  indoinani  all'  ora  della 
lezione,  il  giovine  si  trovo  nella  camera  e  continuo  a 
ritornarvi  i  giorni  consecutivi  qualche  volta  8ul  coniin- 
ciare,  tal'  altra  sul  finire  della  lezione,  ed  i  suoi  sguardi 
constantementc  diretti  sulla  giovine,  laconstringevuno 
mi  arrossire  e  suo  malgnido  la  turbavano.  11  caso 
voile,  che  una  volta  ei  si  trovasse  solo  a  solo  con  Fanny 
nel  momento  in  cui  la  lezione  finiva  e  che  la  scolare 
esciva  al  pa.sseggio.  Pei-suaso  ch'  egli  avrebbe  incon- 
Irato  pocliissima  severifcl  da  parte  di  una  giovine  che 
vivcva  senza  compagnia  e  clie  a  cagione  della  sua  pro- 
fessione  dipendcva  da  tutti,  ei  le  parlo  di  amore  (!on  un 
fare  mezzo  convinto  e  presuiitiioso,  e  tento  di  appres- 
sarsele.  Un  gesto  piono  di  dignity  lo  costrinse  a 
fermarsi. 

"Sono  orfana,"  ella  gli  disse,  "non  ho  n^  appoggi, 
nh  famiglia  ;  la  mia  sola  ri.sor.sa  e  questa,"  indicando 
il  piano-forte  e  voi  fate  di  tutto  per  privarmene,  giac- 
che,  egli  h  ben  certo,  che  mai  piii  osero  di  comparire 
in  questa  casa. 

Pronunziate  queste  parole  Fanny  eso\,  ma  appena 
giunta  a  casa  ancora  tutta  commossa  e  cogli  occhi 
ripieni  di  lagrirae,  ella  ricevette  una  lettera  colla  quale 


<  I 


ii*' 


62  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

bert,  acknowledging  what  kind  of  a  woman  he  had 
oflended,  presented  his  most  respectful  apologies  and 
entreated  her  not  to  add  to  the  faults  with  which  he 
already  repronched  himself  that  of  having  caused  her 
departure  from  the  house  of  Saint-Gilles,  and  prom^ 
ided  her  never  more  to  go  there.  If  Fanny  had  had 
a  mother,  her  conduct  would  have  been  traced. 

The  culprit's  repentjmce  found  favor  with  Fanny. 
The  fear  of  an  unpleasant  scandal  if  the  reason  of  her 
not  going  any  more  to  the  lesson  should  have  been 
guessed  and  the  security  inspired  by  the  said  letter, 
caused  her  to  return  to  Mrs.  SaintrGillea'  house.  The 
young  man  appeared  there  no  more.  The  human 
heart  is  always  full  of  strange  contradictions,  and  even 
the  sincerest  is  the  most  ingenious  in  deceiving  itself. 
Fanny,  in  returning  to  that  house,  had  really  thought 
she  would  not  again  meet  Mr.  Valabert;  and  yet, 
without  knowing  it,  she  was  dominated  by  a  vague 
hope  that  Julius  would  have  come  in  person  to  pre- 
sent his  apologies.  Vainly  she  prolonged  her  lessons 
beyond  the  time  she  ought  to  have  given  them  ;  the 
interest  which  she  used  to  take  in  the  progress  of 
her  pupil  was  no  longer  the  same,  and  her  zeal  in 
teaching  was  infinitely  diminished. 

Was  she  comprehending  her  real  feeimgs  !  No  ; 
without  doubt  she  did  not  understaud  herself  until 
the  day  when,  arriving  earlier  thau  usual,  she  noticed 
the  presence  of  Julius. 


E,iiTi:rriiiij"TJ3iiMiii.ii 


I  he  had 
jgios  and 
which  he 
lused  her 
id  proia^ 

had  had 
;d. 

I  Fanny. 
)nof  her 
ave  been 
d  letter, 
se.  The 
»  human 
and  even 
tig  itself. 

thought 
and  yet, 

a  vague 
n  to  pre- 
r  lessons 
lem  ;  the 
igress  of 
'  zeal  in 

5?  No; 
elf  until 
I  noticed 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  68 

11  sifrnor  Giulio  Valabert,  riconoscendo  quale  donna 
ci  uvesse  offeso,  le  presentuva  le  sue  rispettosissime 
8C11ISC  e  la  supplicava  di  non  aggiungere  ai  riniproveri 
clio  giil  ei  fac'ova  a  se  stesso  quoUo  di  averia  allonta- 
natii  dalla  cas:i  della  signoiJi  Saint-Gilles,  e  le  proniet- 
teva  di  mai  piu  licompariivi.  Se  Fanny  avesse  avuto 
l!i  luadre  la  sua  condotta  sarebhe  stata  tracciata. 

11  pentiniento  del  c()li)evolo  trovo  grazia  presso 
Fanny.  11  tlniore  di  un  dispiacevole  scandalo  se 
vonisse  indovinato  il  motivo  del  sno  cessare  le  le/ioni, 
lasicurozzain.>*pirataleda  quella  lettcra  la  ricondussero 
all'  abitazionc  della  signora  Saint-Gillcs.  II  giovine 
pi  ii  non  vi  si  faceva  vedcre.  II  cuore  uniano  e  sempre 
pieno  di  strane  contradizioni  ed  anche  il  piu  sincero  e 
ingegnosissimo  nell'  ingannare  se  medcsiino.  Fanny 
ritornando  in  quella  casa  aveva  realmente  creduto  di 
non  piu  incontrai-si  col  signor  Valabert ;  eppure  a  sua 
insai)uta  era  dominata  da  una  vaga  speranza  che  Giulio 
sarebbe  venuto  personalmente  ad  offrirlo  le  sue  scuse. 
Invano  essa  prolungava  le  lezioni  al  di  1^  del  tempo 
che  doveva  consacrarvi ;  1'  interesse  che  soleva  avere 
pel  progrcsso  della  sua  scolara  non  era  piu  lo  stcsso, 
ed  il  suo  zelo  nell'  anuuaestrarla  erasi  inlinitamentc 
raffreddato. 

Rendevasi  ella  conto  dei  suoi  intei-ni  sentimenti? 
No,  essa  scnza  dubbio  non  si  comproso  lino  al  giorno 
in  cui  arrivando  un  })oc()  ])iu  pn-slo  del  cunsucto  ella 
si  accorse  della  prcsonza  di  Giulio. 


Wlf^ 


■4^^%'^^f^>-«'^^^'i*i^i^^''^-^C^^^i'^^T'^^^ 


J 


54  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

By  the  blushes  which  she  felt  suffuse  her  face,  by 
the  sudden  palpitation  of  her  heart,  she  understood 
what  she  had  tried  to  hide  from  hereelf,  .that  she  loved 
Julius. 

When  he  timidly  a«kcd  of  her,  as  a  great  favor,  per- 
mission to  be  present  at  the  lesson,  she  had  no  strength 
to  refuse  him,  so  great  was  her  inward  joy.  That 
day  she  accompanied  badly  and  sang  out  of  tune,  but 
on  the  following  day,  already  prepared  for  the  pres- 
ence of  Julius,  who  did  not  move  from  the  parlor,  she 
sung  with  euch  expression  and  inspired  so  much  soul 
into  the  notes  that  the  enamored  and  ecstasied  youth 
could  only  thank  her  with  his  eyes  for  the  pleasure  he 
had  felt  in  listening  to  her.  The  girl's  joy  was  intense 
and  easily  noticeable.  A  few  days  afterwards  they 
ventured  to  sing  together,  a  dangerous  experiment 
which  was  repeated  many  times,  and  the  harmonious, 
fascinating  music  achieved  the  seduction. 

This  would  have  been  the  right  time  for  her  to 
fly,  but  she  had  not  the  courage  to  do  so.  No 
one  was  there  to  teach  her  that  sentiment  of  reason 
which  she  lacked,  and,  not  knowing  how  to  close  her 
.!ai-s  to  the  language  of  a  young  and  sincere  lover,  she 
had  the  weakness  to  betray  herself. 

On  his  part,  he  passionately  begged  of  her  to  grant 
hhn  the  happiness  of  seeing  her  alone  and  of  being 
i-eceived  at  hei  home ;  his  grief  was  so  violent,  his 
tears  so  sincere,  his  passioa  so  prevailing,  that  one  <Jay 


face,  by 
derstood 
he  loved 

vor,  per- 
strength 
^  That 
tune,  but 
the  pres- 
irior,  she 
uch  soul 
sd  youth 
asure  he 
s  intense 
■ds  they 
leriment 
lonious, 

'  her  to 
lo.  No 
'  reason 
lose  her 
ver,  she 

»  grant 
f  being 
ent,  his 
>iie  day 


UNA  I.ETTERA  ANONIMA.  85 

Al  rossore  che  senti  afiluire  sul  suo  volto,  all'  improv- 
viso  palpitare  del  suo  cuore,  ella  si  accorse  di  quanto 
finora  aveva  o«lato  a  se  medesinui,  cioe,  eh'  ella  aniava 
Giulio. 

AUorquando  quest!  tiraidamente  le  (lom«nd6  a  titolo 
di  favore,  11  permesso  di  assistere  alia  lezione,  ella  non 
ebbe  la  forza  di  dargli  una  ncgativa,  tiujta  era  la  sua 
interna  gioia.  Quel  giomo  essa  acconipagn6  male  e 
cant6  in  falso ;  ma  11  giorno  sussoquente  git\  preparatw 
alia  presenza  di  (iiulio,  il  quale  non  si  mosse  dalla  sala, 
mise  tanta  espressione,  tanta  azione  nel  canto  che  il 
giovine  innamorato  ed  estatico  con  una  sola  occhiatsi 
la  ringrazi6  del  piacore  che  aveva  provato  nell'  ascol 
tarla.  II  giubilo  della  giovinetta  era  ininienso  e  facile 
a  riconoscersi.  Varii  giomi  dopo  si  azzardarono  di 
cantare  insiemc,  pericolosissimo  cinuuto,  che  si  rin- 
nov6  pill  volte,  e  1'  armoniosa  niusica  corrutrice  degli 
animi  compi  la  seduzione. 

Questo  sarebbe  stato  il  momento  opportune  di  fu«r- 
gire  pero  non  n'  ebbe  il  coraggio.  Nesisuno  potettc 
consigliarle  quel  sentiinento  di  ragionevolezza  che  le 
niancava  e  non  sapendo  chiudere  1'  oreccliio  al  linguag 
gio  di  un  amore  giovine  e  sincero,  essa  ebbe  la  debo- 
lezza  di  tradirsi. 

Dal  canto  suo,  egli  con  tanto  ardore  soUecitt^  la  feli- 
oit4  di  vederla  da  solo  a  solo,  e  di  essere  ricevuto  da 
lei,  11  suo  dolore  fu  cosi  violento,  le  sue  lagrime  cosi 
sincere,  la  sua  passione  cosi  insinuante  che  un  giomo 


;i^i5i^^'<«®^5S8S*fiS*S»!»Wi£rfeiSKWSiW^ 


56  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

he  knelt  at  the  feet  of  Fanny, in  her  little  apartment  in 
Fui-8tenil)urg  street.     Alas !  Fanny  had  no  mother. 

Six  months  after,  when  we  meet  Fanny,  in  spite  of 
the  great  love  of  Julius,  which  seemed  to  increase 
daily  in  intensity,  she  felt  a  dcap  and  strong  sorrow 
which  poisoned  her  happiness.     At  the  side  of  Julius 
she  endeavored  to  overcome  it,  asking  from  love  the 
oblivion  of  her  remoi-so.    But  in  the  houi-s  of  solitude 
and  reflection,  a  lively  grief  mastered  her  heart,  tears 
flowed  abundantly  as  goon  as  her  thoughts  departed 
from  the  present,  marching  toward  the  future.     Her 
only  hope  reposed  on  the  uncertain  duration  of  the 
love  of  Julius.     For  although  he  was  most  tender  and 
affectionatt!,  yet  he  hud  some   faults   which   rightly 
grieved  her.     The  principal  ones  were  mistrust  and 
jealousy.      Already,    to  please  him,   she   hod   been 
obliged  to  discontinue  her  lessons,  as  Julius  thought 
that  profession  a  little  wandering,  because  he,  with 
his  experience,  had  learned  to  what  dangers  a  young 
teacher  is  exposed ;  and,  though  renouncing  in   this 
way  the  exercise  of  her  talents  she  had  lost  much,  yet 
she  would  accept  nothing  from  her  lover.     Fanny 
succeeded  in  pei-suading  Ji  lius  that  she  had  still  a 
small  in(!ome  arising  from  the  united  legacies  of  her 
father  and  an  old  aunt,  which,  together  with  some 
little  savings,  (now  almost  exhausted,)  was  enough  for 


aiffurarfi.- 


liitiiiiiiiiiiiimtnimiwnii 


nent  in 
ther. 
ipito  of 
icrejiae 
sorrow 
JuliuH 
3ve  the 
olitude 
t,  teiu"8 
(parted 
Her 
of  the 
ler  and 
rightly 
^t  and 

been 
lought 
,  with 
young 
n  this 
•h,  yet 
Fanny 
still  a 
of  her 

some 
gh  for 


UNA  LETTKRA  ANOXmA.  67 

cadde  alio  ginocchia  di  Fanny  ncl  piccolo  apparta- 
raento  della  via  di  Fui-stcmberg.  Ahiine  I  Fanny  non 
aveva  la  madre  ! 

Dopo  sei  mesi  all'  epoca  in  cui  ritroviamo  Fanny  in 
onta  deir  imnienso  amore  di  Giulio  che  sembni\'a 
giornalmcnte  crcHccre  in  intonsitj\  essa  provava  un 
forte  e  pungente  dolore  che  avvolonava  la  si  a  felicifcV. 
Al  fianco  di  CJiulio  si  sforznva  di  caimarlo  doinundando 
air  aniorc  1'  ol»lio  del  rinioi'so.  Peru  nelle  ore  di  soli- 
tudine  e  di  riflossione  nn  vivo  dolore  h'  iinpadroniya 
del  suo  cuore,  le  lagrinie  sgorgavano  in  abbondanza 
dal  momenlo  in  cui  il  sno  pensicro  si  allontanava  dal 
presente  e  si  dirigeva  verso  1'  avvenirc.  L'  unica  sua 
speranza  riposava  mW  ineerta  durata  della  passione  di 
Giulio.  Per  quanto  quosti  fosse  tenero  ed  affezionato 
atutta  prova,  pure  possedeva  qualche  difetto  dei  quali 
a  giustn  ragione  ella  s'inquietava.  1  principali  erano  la 
diifidenza  e  la  gelosia.  Cii\  per  contentarlo  aveva  do- 
vuto  cessare  le  sue  lezioni,  dappoiche  Giulio  prendeva 
ombra  di  quella  professione  un  po'  vngabonda  avendo 
egli  stesso,  coUa  propria  esperienza  iniparato  a  quali 
pericoli  andasse  esposta  una  maestra,  e  quantunque 
rinunciando  all'  esercizio  del  suo  talento  essa  avesse 
perduto  molto,  pure  non  aveva  volute  accettare  nulla 
dal  suo  amante.  Fanny  riesci  a  persuadere  Giulio  che 
delle  riunite  ereditil  del  padre  e  di  una  vecohia  zia,  le 
restava  ancora  una  piccola  rendita,  che  riunita  a  certe 
economic  (quasi  per  intero  consumate)  bastava  ai  suoi 


-^^^mm^^^-i^^i^i^ei^i^sii^semi£^smmm»i^»::iiMmmii-'.i-i»'--^i  ■  r  wiaw.  ws 


--^T«mi-" 


^«5«EVSS3Kr^ 


I: 


^^  AN  ANONYMOUS  LRTTRU. 

Iht  needs.  We  have  Hlreiuly  seem  how  the  poor  girl 
added  to  her  sctiiity  income  by  the  Hiile  of  her  tn{)eHtry- 
work,  in  which,  jw  in  many  other  things,  she  was 
indeed  very  skillful. 

Very  few  ininiites  had  passed  since  Marion  had 
gone,  when  Fanny  was  disturljcd  in  her  meditations 
l»y  a  sharp  pull  at  the  hell,  which  restored  her  gayety. 
"At  last!"  she  thought,  and  ran  to  open  the  door. 
Julius  entered.  He  was  a  young  man  about  thirty 
years  old.  with  dark  hair  and  rather  pallid  complexion. 
The  habit  of  serious  study  had  imparted  to  his  coun- 
tenance a  premature  gravity,  and  although  naturally 
kind  and  inclined  to  indulgence,  one  might  have  no- 
ticed in  his  looks  that  distrust  common  to  all  those 
who,  on  accoimt  of  their  studies,  keep  aloof  fi-om  the 
world,  and  who  are  not  accustomed  to  judge  of  men 
and  things  at  a  single  glance.  At  the  moment  Julius 
appeared,  he  had  the  thoughtful  mien  of  a  man  who 
has  taken  an  important  resolution  and  has  prepared 
himself  to  disclose  it.  After  having  glanced  around 
him,  he  asked  Avhere  Marion  wjis. 

"I  sent  her  on  an  errand,"  answered  Fanny,  with- 
out any  further  explanation. 

Julius  entered  the  parlor,  took  Fanny's  beautiful 
hands  in  his  own,  kissed  them,  and  motioning  her  to 
»  seat,  seated  himself  near  her. 

"Fanny, "he  began  with  the  sweetest  voice,  "Fanny, 
are  you  happy  ? " 


oor  girl 
u{)eHtiy- 
he  was 

on  had 
iitntions 
f?'»y«ty. 
lo  door. 
;  thirty 
)loxion. 
s  conn- 
itu  rally 
ave  no- 
li thOHO 

•oin  tho 
f)f  men 
;  Julius 
an  who 
'epared 
around 

,  with- 

sautiful 
her  to 

Fanny, 


UNA  r.RTTRRA  ANONIMA.  50 

biflo^!.    Abbiamo  gi:l  veduto  in  qual  inaniera,  invoco, 

la  poverina  suppliHso   a  questi  ultinii  colla  nascosta 

vendita  dei  suoi  lavori  di  ta[)o/.zeria  nei  quali  come  in 

tante  altre  coso  era  abiliHsiina. 

Erano  forse  HuorHi  appenii  j)0chi  minuti  dacch^  Ma. 

rianiia  era  uncita,  quando  di  reponte    Fanny  venne  di. 

8turt)ata  nei  suoi  ponHieri  da  una  scanipanellata  ohe  le 

it!8titii\  il  buon'  umore. 

"  ''  Finalmente,"  essa  pci  s6,  e  corse  ad  aprire  la  poi-ta, 

Giulio  entri).     Era  desso   un   giovino  sulla  trontina, 

bruno  ed  alquanto  pailido.     L'   abitudine.  di  uerii 
stndii  nveva  improsso  siii  suoi  linoumenti  una  prccoce 

wravitiL  Abbenchu  fosse  di  natura  buono  e  propenso al- 

I'indulgenza  sni  suoi  sjfuurdi  vi  A  .scorgcva  quella  diffi- 

denza  propria  di  tutti  coloro  che  a  motivo  dei  loro  studii 

Bono  lontani  dal  niondo  e  che  non  sono  esercitati  a  giu- 

dicare  uomini  e  cose  con  un  scmplice  colpo  d'  occhio. 

Nei  presentai-si  avcva  il  fare  pensieroso  di  un  uonu) 

uhe  ha  preso  una  risoluzione  importante  e  che  si  pre- 

para  a  manifestarla. 

Dopo  avere  date  un'  occhiata  intorno  a  lui  domand6 
dove  fosse  Marianna. 

"L'  ho  mandata  fuori,"  rispose  Fanny,  senz'  altro 
oomuiento.  Giulio  passo  nella  sala,  prese  le  belle 
mani  di  Fanny,  vi  scocc6  un  bacio  e  facendolc  segno 
di  sedere  si  assise  accanto  a  lei. 

"Fanny,"  ei  comincio  col  piii  dolce  tuono,  "cara 
Fanny,  sei  tu  felicel 


60  AN  ANONriMOUS  LOTTKR. 

'•Certninly,"  whe  nnHwcred,  "and  how  could  it  be 
otherwise  y  Is  not  your  love  alwuyH  the  Hiiine  i  Kvery 
lime  you  wish  to  know  if  I  aui  huppy,  iwk  yourself  if 
you  lovo  me. " 

"And  nevertheless,"  replied  Julius,  "you  are  suf- 
fering without  confiding  it  to  me.  as  if  your  heart 
ought  to  hide  something  from  mo.  More  than  once  1 
have  discovered  traces  of  teai-s  on  your  face;  more 
than  once  I  thought  I  had  guessed  the  agitations  of 
your  soul.  From  whence  that  grief  which  your 
feigned  gayety  cannot  hide  from  me  i  Speak,  Fanny, 
have  confidence  in  me;  what  do  you  wish?  What  do 
you  require  of  me  v " 

"  Nothing  I  Have  I  not  told  you  often,  your  love 
isemmgh  for  me^" 

♦'  Do  you  not  possess  it  entirely  ?  I  know  well  you 
do  not  iLsk  for  the  splendor  of  luxury  or  the  pleasures 
of  vanity  ((  You  refused  my  gifts,  and  I  was  obliged 
to  yield  to  a  pride  I  so  much  appreciated.  Fanny, 
that  which  you  wish  for,  the  desire  which  troubles 
your  joy  and  quiet,  and  perhaps  injures  your  health 
also,  is  then  greater  than  my  riches,  greater  than  my 
love?" 

"  Can  you  think  so  ? " 

He  smiled  sweetly,  ndding  in  a  most  encouraging 
tone :  "Speak,  tell  me  it,  open  your  heart  to  me." 

Fanny  answered :  "  Friend,  I  do  not  complain  of 
my  lot,  I  made  it  what  it  is.   I  love  you,  and  so '.  ong  as 


(1  it  be 

Kvery 

iroolf  if 

are  snf- 
ir  lieart 
I  once  1 
);  more 
tions  of 
h  your 
Fanny, 
^liat  (io 

lur  love 

'^ell  you 
easnrcs 
obliged 
Fanny, 
roubles 
•  health 
ban  my 


iragmg 
ne." 
>lain  of 
dongas 


UNA  I.KTTFRA  ANONIMA.  dl 

"  Si(!Uraniont('."  ella  rmpose,  "come  non  potroi 
esHorlo  ?  II  tuo  aniore  nou  e  scin{)ie  11  niodosinio  ? 
Tutto  le  volte  die  vuoi  conoHcere  se  io  mi  sia  folice, 
(lomandati  se  tu  mi  ami  sempro." 

"  Kppure,"  viprese  Giulio,"  tu  soflVi  sonza  pnle- 
sarmelo,  quiwi  clie  il  tuo  cuorc  dovesse  nascondcro 
qualche  aegicto.  Piii  di  una  volta,  ho  scopcrto  sid 
tuo  viso  le  tniccie  dclle  tuc  Iniriime;  piii  di  una  volta 
ho  creduto  d'  indovinure  V  ngitazioiic  dclla  tuaaiiiina. 
Percht'  quest'  abbattimcnto  die  la  tiia  simulata  alle- 
gria  non  puo  riescire  a  nascondenui '.  Parla,  Fanny, 
sii  liduciosa,  cho  cosa  dcsideri  ?  Che  vuoi  da  mo  i  " 
"Nulla,  gii\  tel  dissi  latua  tenere//-a  mi  basta." 
"  Non  la  possiedi  fovsio  intevamente  {  So  bene  cho 
tu  non  mi  domandi  Io  splendoie  del  Iuh^o  ed  i  piaccri 
della  vanitA.  Tu  hai  respinto  i  miei  doni,  ed  ho  do 
vuto  cedere  ad  un  orgoglio  die  appiez/.o  intinitamen- 
te.  Cit)  che  tu  desideri,  Fanny,  (piewto  bene  di  cui  la 
brama  tormenta  la  tua  gioia  ed  il  tuo  riposo,  e  forso 
ingiuria  e  pregiudica  la  tua  salute,  i'  dun(|ue  maggioro 
delle  ricchezze  e  piu  pre/ioso  del  mio  amoro  ?  " 
"  Puoi  suppodo  ?  " 

Egli  sorrise  dolcemente,  dicendole  colla  piii  inco- 
rairaiante  inflessione  di  voce  : 

"  Pada,  dimmelo,  apdmi  la  tua  anima." 
Rimettendosi  al  suo  posto  Fanny  rispose  : 
''  Amico,  non  mi  lamento  del  mio  destino,  io  mede- 
sima  Id  feci  qual'  e.    Ti  ho  amato  e  finche  tu  mi  amc- 


i  i 


— ;s;iarJ^/^;;t'?gaiUit.AA!tHi.i^.'«'4J^-o'«i-j--''MW-i.«>-^---i.-.' 


62  AN  ANONYMOUS  LKTlKR. 

you  will  love  uie  1  shall  have  no  other  grief.  Forgive 
me  if  some  remembrance  of  the  past  comes  to  my 
mind,  and  tries  to  disturb  the  happiness  I  feel  with 
you.  Alas  I  despite  of  myself,  against  my  wishes,  I 
often  fancy  1  see  my  father,  my  poor  father  who  loved 
me  so  much,  appear  before  me  with  angry  face,  ask- 
ing a  strict  account  of  the  principles  in  which  he  had 
educated  me.  I  have  no  reason  to  reproach  you.  I 
aske'  only  for  your  love,  and  until  now  you  have 
ffiven  it.  You  had  only  promised  me  faithfulness, 
and  you  have  kept  your  promise.  What  reason  have 
I,  then,  to  complain !  What  are  the  causes  of  my 
grief.     1  am  happy,  you  know  it  veiy  well." 

While  Baying  these  words,  she  wiped  a  falling  tear. 

Julius,  pressing  her  head  to  his  breast,  answered  : 
"Yes,  dear  Fanny,  without  doubt  I  promised  you  my 
love,  but  this  love  is  capable  of  anything  ;  it  will  not 
slop  short  of  sacrifices  which  will  cease  to  be  called 
such  the  moment  when  through  them  you  recover 
your  peace  and  happiness. 

"  What  do  you  mean  i "  she  asked,  raising  her  beau- 
tiful eyes,  full  of  wonder. 

"  Yesterday  you  confided  me  something." 
■  She  blushed  and  bent  her  head. 

"To-<lay  I  answer  you  with  another  confidence. 
My  family  wish  me  to  marry." 

"What  then?" 

"Well  then",  I  have  resolved  to  choose  a  compan- 


1 


<0 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  63 

rai  non  provero  alcun  dolore.  Perdonami,  se  qualche 
ricordanza  del  passato  si  presenta  alia  mia  mpnte  e  cerca 
di  alterare  la  felicita  ch'  io  provo  al  tuo  fianco.  Ahi- 
me  I  a  mio  diapetto,  contro  mia  voglia  spesso  imma^ 
gino  di  vcdere  mio  padre,  il  povero  padre  mio,  che 
tanto  mi  amava,  prcsentarsi  a  me  con  volto  corrucciato 
e  domandarini  conto  scvero  dei  principii  nei  quali 
mi  aveva  educate.  Non  ho  motivi  di  rimproverarti; 
ti  ho  solo  domandato  il  tuo  amore  e  fino  ad  oggi  tu  mo 
lo  hai  conservato.  Tu  mi  avevi  solo  promesso  la 
fedeltA,  e  questa  fcdoltA  mi  h  mantenuta.  Qual  mo- 
tivo  di  doglianza  poss'  io  avere  ?  Dove  sono  i  miei 
soffsretti  di  dolore?     Tu  ben  lo  sai,  io  sono  feiice." 

Nel  dire  queste  parole  si  as6iugo  una  lagrima. 

Giulio  tratta  al  petto  la  testa  di  Fanny  riprese  : 

"S\,  senza  dubbio,  cara  Fanny,  ti  promisi  il  mio 
amore,  ma  qiiesto  amore  o  capace  ditutto;  esso  non  in- 
dietreggia  innanzi  a  sagrificii  che  cosseranno  di  esscre 
tali  quando  pui-  mezzo  degli  stessi,  tu  avrai  acquistato 
la  quiete  e  la  felicity." 

"Chevuoi  dire?"  essa  domand6,  alzando  su  lui  i 
suoi  beglli  occhi  in  atto  di  stupore. 

"leri  tu  mi  facevi  una  contidenza.'* 

Essa  arrossl,  e  chino  il  capo. 

"Oggi  io  ti  rispondero  con  altra  confidenza.  La 
famiglia  desidera  ch'  io  prenda  moglie." 

"Ebbenel" 

*'Ebbene,  ho  risoluto  di  sceglienni  una  compagna; 


.i.J2!8^mK§v5MB^BSfefetf-af'.lgaj!  ■  .f ■;;'^;.'j'aj.«<^A,^jfeMf sw^jfe^aascMigajMui^^ 


64  AN  ANONYMOUS  LKTTER. 

ion,  but  I  will  not  go  to  find  her  among  the  women 
belonging  to  the  class  of  those  apparently  wealthy 
but  poor  in  true  merit,  in  whom  vanity  corrupts  the 
best  sentiments— among  those  ladies  who  think  that 
a  great  name  or  a  great  fortune  can  dispense  with 
virtue  and  talent.  No  ;  she  whom  I  shall  choose  will 
be  a  timid  and  modest  woman,  whose  heart  I  have 
already  learned  to  know,  sufficiently  in  love  to  have 
yielded  to  me,  sufficiently  virtuous  to  feel  repentant— 
a  woman,  in  short,  who  is  worthy  to  bear  the  name 
of  an  honest  man.  You,  Fanny,  are  that  woman;  that 
name  is  mine.    I  ofler  it  to  you;  do  you  accept  it? " 

The  poor  girl  listened  as  if  she  could  not  under- 
stand his  words.  When  Julius  had  finished,  she  re- 
mained a  little  while  with  her  hands  clasped  and  as 
though  she  were  yet  listening  to  him. 

Julius  took  her  hand  and  lovingly  gazed  at  her. 

"  Is  it  true  ? "  she  said  at  last ;  "  is  it  not  a  dream  ? " 

"No,  no;  it  would  be  too  cruel  were  it  not  in 
earnest." 

"Oh!  dear!"  and  while  so  saying  she  let  herself 
fall  into  his  arms,  but  suddenly  freeing  hei-self  from 
him,  she  fell  upon  her  knees,  exclaiming  : 

"Ohl  my  father!" 

A  thought  crossed  her  mind,  and  rising,  she  ap- 
proached Julius,  and  regarding  him  fixedly  all  the 
time  she  was  speaking,  said : 

"Thanks,  dear,  for  your  generosity.     If  you  could 


-JULk. 


?liSf^    " 


women 
irealthy 
pta  the 
ik  that 
36  with 
)se  will 
I  have 
to  have 
itant— 
i  name 
in;  that 
it?" 
under- 
she  re- 
and  as 


her. 
•earn?" 
not  in 


herself 
f  from 


she  ap- 
all  the 

a  could 


I 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  66 

per6  non  andr6  a  cercarla  f  ra  quelle  che  appartcn^ono 
ad  un  ceto  i-icco  in  apparenza,  ma  povero  di  vcri  me- 
riti,  in  cui  la  vanity  corrompe  i  migliori  sentimcnti,  fra 
quelle  donne  le  quali  pensano  che  un  gran  nome  o  una 
grande  fortuna  possono  dispensare  dalla  virtu  e  dai 
talenti.  No,  colei  ch'  io  sceglier6  sari  una  donna  mo- 
desta,  timida,  della  quale  giti,  avrc!)  sperimentato  il 
cuore,  1'  amore  della  quale  avrA,  corrisposto  al  mio, 
assai  amorosa  per  avermi  coduto,  assai  virtuosa  per 
ripentii-si,  una  donna  infine  die  sia  degna  di  portare  11 
nome  di  un  uomo  onestc>  questa  donna  Fanny  sel  tu, 
qucsto  nome  o  il  mio,  io  te  1'  offro,  lo  vuoi  tu  ? " 

Jja  poverina  a\'eva  a-scoltato  quelle  parole  come  se 
non  ne  avesse  con  preso  il  signilicato.  Allorche  Giulio 
ebbe  finito,  essa  i  imase  ancora  un  instante  colle  manl 
giunte  ed  in  atto  di  guardarlo  ed  ascoltarlo. 

Giulio  le  atferro  I.i  mano  contcmplandola  con  amore. 

"Davvero?"  mormoro  linalmente,  "nou  e  questo 
un  sogno  ? " 

"No,  no,  sarebbe  uno  scherzo  troppo  crudele." 

"Ah!  caro!"  ed  in  cio  dire  si  lascio  cadere  nelle 
braccia  di  Giulio,  riiti  inimediatamente  distaccandosene 
cadde  ginocchioni,  dicendo ; 

"Ohl  padre  mio  I" 

Un  pensiero  attrav,  i-so  la  -ua  mt-are,  ed  alzatasl 
pallida  si  avvicino  a  Giulio.  t  ii.s.-iundoIo  in  volto  tutto 
il  tempo  ch'  ella  parlo,  cosi  gli  disse  : 

"Grazie,  caro,  di  Uui'  .  .lenerositil.     3e  ti  fosse  dato 


66  AN  ANONYMOUS  LE'lTEK. 

read  my  heart,  what  gratituiie  and  new  love  would 
you  discover  in  it.  I  have  yet  a  question  to  ask  you. 
Listen  ;  these  words  are  serious,  and  1  pray  you  seri- 
ously to  answer  them.  If  what  you  told  me  is  only 
dictated  by  conscience,  if  you  offer  me  your  hand,  this 
precious  present  by  me  so  long  wished  for,  only  as 
the  performance  of  a  sacred  duty,  if  some  day  in  the 
future  your  heart  should  munnnr  against  the  sacrifice 
you  arc  now  niakmg  for  my  sake,  then  how  great 
may  be  my  grief ;  and  although  I  have  no  longer  the 
right  to  refuse  you,  because  I  have  no  i*ight  to  think 
of  myself  alone,  yet  I  should  prefer  to  hide  my  lone- 
liness and  shame  in  some  unknown  place  rather  than 
to  live  with  you,  spurned  and  despised  by  a  husband 
Avho  would  soon  repent  of  the  concessions  given  in  a 
moment  when  ptission  overpowered  him." 

"  Fanny,"  replied  the  youth,  "  I  swear  to  you  that 
my  heart  only  has  urged  me  to  take  such  a  step." 

Again  she  fell  at  his  feet.  He  raised  her,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  Julius  was  kneeling  before  her,  saying  : 

"Now,  Fanny,  will  you  refu.se  me  what  I  am  going 
to  ask  of  you  ? " 

"What  can  I  refuse?  What  do  you  wish  from 
me?" 

"  A  proof  of  love.  As  you  well  know,  I  always 
feared  that  your  heart,  before  being  acquainted  with 
me,  had  loved  another.  You  have  always  assured  me 
of  the  contrary,  nevertheless  this  fear  often  returns  to 


would 
isk  you. 

ou  seri- 

is  only 
mil,  this 

only  as 
y  in  the 
sacrifice 
w  great 
iger  the 
to  think 
ay  lone- 
ler  than 
msband 
en  in  a 

jrou  that 
3p." 

and  in  a 
y^ing : 
n  going 

ih  from 

always 
^d  with 
ired  me 
turns  to 


i 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  67 

di  leggere  nel  mio  cuore  quanta  riconosoenza  e  quanto 
novello  amore  non  vi  scoin'iresti.  Ho  un'  alti-a  do- 
manda  a  farti.  Ascoltsmii,  parlo  sul  .mtIo,  e  ti  prego 
di  seriamente  i-ispondornii.  Se  quanto  poco  fa  mi  di- 
cesti  fu  solo  dettato  dalla  coscien/a ;  se  mi  offri  la  lua 
mano,que8to  benecos'i  prezioso  da  me  tanto  de&iderato, 
solo  per  compiere  nn  sacro  dovere;  se  infine  un  giorno 
il  cuore  tuo  dovesse  mormorare  contro  il  sajrriticio  chv^ 
oggi  mi  fai;  ebbene,  allora,  per  quanto  forte  possa  es- 
sere  il  mio  dolore  e  quantunque  forse  io  non  mi  abbia 
pill  il  diritto  di  rifiutarti,  giacche  non  mi  licedi  per  .-"vo 
a  me  soltanto,  pure  amt^rci  nieglio  nascondere  in  qu.  !- 
chc  sconosciuto  ritiro  il  mio  abbandono  e  la  mia  ver- 
gogna  che  vivere  presso  di  te  importuna  e  disprezzata 
da  uno  sposo  che  si  ripentirebbo  delle  concepsion' 
strappategli  in  un  momento  di  passione." 

" Fanny,"  ripete  il  giovino,  "ti  gluro  che  il  cuore 
eolo  mi  ha  consigliato  questa  risoluzioue." 

Di  bel  nuovo  essasi  gett<)  ai  suoi  piedi;  egli  larialzo, 
e  pochi  moment!  dopo  (riulio  a  suo  turno  trovavasi  in 
ginocchio  dinnnzi  a  lei,  dicendole : 

"Adesso,  Fan.iy,  mi  ririuterai  tu  la  domanda  che 
sono  per  farti." 

" Che  cosa  poss'  io  rifiutarti  ?     Che  vuoi  tu  da  me? " 

"Una  prova  d'  aniore.  ilo  .senqjre  temuto,  come  tu 
ben  sal,  die  prima  cli  conosecrmi  11  tuo  cuore  avesso 
amato  altri.  Tu  mi  liai  scmpre  assicurato  del  con- 
trario,  pu;-  tuttavia  questo  timore  spesso  ritoma  alia 


-L 


.^^A'>«t%ni  ^--^sAtfTunt .:.'/  f!A  '?• 


■»  'T 


68 


AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 


my  thoughts.  To-day  I  doubt  no  more.  I  can  assure 
you  of  it.  You  have  told  me  a  thousand  times  that 
you  have  kci)t  nothing  of  the  past  but  reme'^.i- 
brances  of  your  childhood  and  of  your  family.  You 
have  jealously  kept  as  a  treasure  a  ring,  in  which  your 
mother  had  put  a  lock  of  your  liair  when  you  were  so 
young  you  could  only  answer  her  by  caresses.  I  wish 
to  have  this  ring  ;  give  it  to  me — to  me,  your  lawful 
husband,  now  that  in  nie  is  concentrated  your  whole 
family  that  you  huve  lost.  Give  me  what  remains  to 
you  that  belonged  to  your  molhei'." 

She  was  about  to  rise, but  pausing,  "Later,"  she  said. 

"Why  notnoAV?" 

"Dear,  I  alwav!--  bi-lieved  in  the  sincerity  of  your 
love.  I  inferred  it  from  your  jealous  feai-s,  and  my 
only  sorrow  was  in  not  being  able  to  quiet  your  suspi- 
cions. All  you  have  now  told  me  cei-tainly  fills  me 
with  joy,  but  does  not  at  all  surprise  me.  I  was  wait- 
ing tliiit  word  which  should  take  away  all  guilt  from 
us ;  I  was  waiting  because  I  knew  you  loved  me,  also 
because  you  are  good  and  generous.  Listen,  then: 
On  the  da}-  of  our  mnrriage  I  will  give  you  that  ring, 
which  I  cannot  part  from  except  for  the  sake  of  him 
whom  I  love.  This  has  always  been  my  thought. 
On  the  hapi)y  day  of  our  union  I  cannot  put  on  my 
head  the  orange  crown  every  bride  is  accustomed  to 
weju*  in  going  to  the  altar.  That  ring  is  all  that  be- 
longs tx)  me,  and  at  the  same  time  is  the  only  thing  I 


,.-■1 


UNA  LETTERA  ANOXIMA.  69 

mir.  mente.  Oggi  piii  non  dubito,  te  lo  giuro.  Tu 
mille  volte  mi  hai  ripetuto  avere  conaervato  del  passato 
solamente  ricordi  d'  infanzia  e  di  faniiglia.  Tu  hai  ge- 
losamcnte  cui^tudito,  quale  un  tesoro,  un  ancllo  nel 
quale  tua  madre  racchiuse  i  tuoi  capelli,  allorche  troppo 
giovine  ancora,  tu  non  potevi  rispondere  alle  sue  car 
rezze.  Bramo  di  possedere  quell'  anello,  dammelo, 
dallo  a  me,  tuo  sposo,  oggi  chu  in  me  si  concentra 
tutta  la  famiglia  che  tu  hai  perduta.  Dammi  cio  che 
ti  resta  di  tua  madre." 

Fatto  un  movimento  per  alzarsi,  e  quindi  arrestatasi 
di  bel  nuovo : 

"Pititardi,"  ella  rispose. 

"Perchfe?" 

"Ho  sempre  creduto,  caro,  alia  sinct^ritA  del  tuo 
amore  verso  di  me,  lo  argomentai  dai  tuoi  gelosi  timori, 
ed  il  mio  unico  dolore  era  quello  di  non  riescire  a  cal- 
mare  quel  tuoi  sosjjetti.  Qnanto  ora  mi  dicesti  senza 
ch'  io  te  lo  domandassi  mi  colma  di  vera  gioia,  ma  non 
mi  reca  sorpresa  lo  aspettava  questa  paroia  che  scan- 
cella  qualunque  colpa  fra  noi,  I'aspettava,  perchfe  tu  mi 
ami,  e  pcrche  sei  buono  e  gencroso.  Ebbene!  II 
giorno  dellc  nostre  nozze  ti  daro  quell'  anello  di  cui 
non  posso  privarmi  che  solo  in  favore  di  colui  che  amo. 
Ebbi  sempre  questo  pensiero.  Nel  giorno  felice  della 
nostra  unione,  io  non  potro  porre  sul  capo  quella  co- 
rona oJie  tutte  le  zitelle  sogiiono  porre  nel  recarsi  all'  al- 
tare.     Quest  anello  h  quanto  mi  appartiene,  ed  e  la 


.„^«'r'RW"J'iBligii>.',J".''.-».- 


'•'iiii  ••'rf 'mi     'rn'    •  irillriWIIiMnnni 


r 


70  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

have  not  given  to  you.     It  will  be  my  nupf'^'.l  gift," 

J«'Uu8  would,  perhaps,  have  insisted,  bat  just  at 
that  moment  Marion  entered.  She  seemed  disap- 
pointed. By  means  of  signs,  she  made  her  mistress 
undei-stjind  that  she  had  not  found  the  usual  buyer 
and  that  consequently  she  had  brought  the  tapes- 
tiy  I  atk. 

"What  is  the  matter?"  asked  Julius,  who  had 
already  noticed  some  of  tL  se  signs. 

"  Nothing, "  answered  Fui  ly,  smiling. 

"Always  some  mysteries? " 

"  No,"  and  she  embraced  him. 
-  In  order  to  change  the  couree  of  Julius'  thoughts, 
she  added : 

"Have  you  pondered  all  the  obstacles  to  this 
union?" 

Before  he  had  time  to  answer,  a  loud  noise  was 
heard  in  the  street,  usually  so  quiet  Julius  ran  to 
the  window,  and  a  few  steps  from  the  house  he  saw  a 
fainting  woman  surrounded  by  a  crowd.  He  imme- 
diately descended  into  the  street  in  ordt-r  to  briniy 
help,  and  a  few  niin-ites  afterward  returned. 

"Strange,""  he  said,  "the  hox-se  of  my  cousin,  Mre. 
de  Launay,  who  had  gone  to  her  business  man  to  talce 
an  impoi-tant  document,  has  fallea,  and  although  not 
wounded,  the  fright  she  experienced  baa  caused  her 


ikL 


'•".1  gift." 
t  ju8t  at 
3cl  disap- 
'  niistroHS 
lal  buyei* 
le  tapes- 

whu  hud 


houghts, 

to   this 

oiso  was 
IS  run  to 
he  anw  a 
e  imnit;- 
to  bring 

in,  Mi-s. 
I  to  take 
•ugh  not 
sed.  her 


UNA  LRTTERA  ANONIMA.  71 

sola  cosa  ch'  io  non  ti  ahbia  ancora  dato;  esso  sari  11 
mio  regulo  di  nozze." 

Giulio  avrebbe  foi-se  insistito,  ma  in  qupsto  monionto 
entro  Marianna.  Essa  scunbrava  di  cattivo  vmiore. 
A  forza  di  cenni  fece  coniprendero  alia  sua  pudrona  di 
non  avere  trovato  la  venditrice  e  di  avere  rocato  indic- 

tro  la  tapezzeria. 

"Che  cosac'  fe,"  doinando  Giulio,  oho  avova  sorpre- 

8()  quel  cenni. 

*'  Nulla  !  "  risposc  Fanny  sorridendo. 

"  Sempi-e  misteri  !  " 

"  No,"  ed  essa  lo  al^braccio. 

Per  far  cambiarc  il  corso  delle  idee  di  GitiHo,  cssa 
riprese. 

'  'Hai  tu  calcolato  gli  ostacoli  a  questa  nostra  unione  ?" 

Prima  che  Giulio  avesse  il  tempo  di  rispondero, 
udissi  un  gran  rumoro  nella  strada  ordinariamente  si 
quieta.  Giulio  corse  alia  finestra  ed  a  pochi  passi 
scorse  una  giovine  donna  svenuta  circondata  da  vario 
persone. 

Discese  immantinente  per  aiutare  in  portarle  soc- 
corso,  e  pochi  minuti  dopo  risalito  : 

"  Strana  coincidenza, "  ei  disse,  "il  cavallo  del  car- 
rozzino  della  signora  de  Launay,  mia  cugina,  venuta 
presso  il  suo  uomo  d'affiiri  per  prendere  un  documento 
importante,  e  caduto,  e  la  paura  ch'  essa  ha  provato, 
le  ha  accagionato  imo  svenimento ;  pero  essa  non  h 
stata   ferita.      Vado    ad   acconipiignarla  a  casa,    a 


78  AN  ANONYWOUfl  LRTTKIt. 

toHwoon.  I  shall  go  und  boo  hor  homo.  Good -byo  till 
to-morrow " 


Emhraring  Fimny,  he  quickly  dcptirtod.  Fanny 
went  U)  the  window  to  sec  him  go.  Julius  dare  not 
look  ut  her. 


III. 
THE  FKIEND. 

On  the  f«>llowing  day,  while  Julius  was  at  Fanny's 
house,  a  scene  was  l>eing  enacted  in  the  rue  of  Lille, 
tlie  consequences  of  which  might  have  destroyed  all 
the  projects  of  the  two  lovei-s.  Mrs.  Valabert  had  re- 
ceived a  visit  from  the  Countess  of  Septeuil,  a  lady  of 
ancient  nobility,  inmicusely  wealthy  and  in  friendly 
h.  3rcourse  with  many  persons  having  influence  at 
court. 

The  conversation  between  those  two  had  been  quite 
long.  As  this  visit  was  a  very  important  and  not 
an  ordinary  one,  the  conversation,  at  the  beginning 
cold  and  reserved,  had  gradually  become  lively  and 
confidential,  till  both  ladies,  after  a  long  diplomatical 
discourse,  had  thought  it  convenient  to  explain  the 
cause  which  had  brought  them  together. 

The  interview  had  ended,  and  Mrs.  Valabert  was 
already  accompanying  the  countess  to  the  door  of  the 
hall,  and  the  two  ladies  had  reciprocally  exchanged 


imm» 


d-hyo  till 

Fanny 
dure  nut 


UNA  t.KITKUA  ANONIMA.  78 

riv««(U'm  a  doniani "     Aldn-acciata  Fanny  proclpi- 

tatauifntc  hi  allontano.  Fanny,  «i  pose  alia  Hnestm 
per  vcdcrlo  partirc.  ma  (iinlio  non  oso  rivojfjen'  1 
8U<)i  occhi  verso  di  lei.  - 


Fanny's 
of  Lille, 
royed  all 
d  had  re- 
a  lady  of 

friendly 
inence  at 

een  quite 
and  not 
eginning 
vely  and 
lomatical 
>lain  the 

bert  was 
or  of  the 
ichanged 


ill. 

Nel  giorno  jiUHsiij  lenlo  ineati  Giulio  trovavasi  dft 
Funny  nella  via  di  Lilla  aveva  liiogo  una  seena  di  cui 
lo  scioglimonto  se  si  fosse  realizzato  avrebbe  foi-se  di- 
strutto  i  progetti  dt'i  due  anianli.  La  signora  Vala- 
bert  avcva  ricevuto  la  visita  (Uilla  contessa  di  Septeuil 
dama  di  antica  nobiltA,,  iinniensamente  ricca  od  in  in- 
tima  relazione  con  molti  personnaggi  in  grandissimo 
credito  presao  la  Corte. 

Fra  lore  la  convei-saz.ione  era  statu  assai  lunga.  Sul 
bel  principio  fredda  e  riservata  da  parte  cd  altra,  giao- 
che  non  si  trattava  di  tna  semplice  visita,  ma  di  un 
coUoquio  molto  inipoi-tante,  poco  alia  volta  la  conver- 
sazione si  era  aniuiata,  ed  era  addivenuta  assai  intinia, 
quando  ognuna  delle  due  signore  dopo  lunghi  diplo- 
matici  raggiri  avea  giudicato  bene  di  spiegare  il  mo- 
tivo  pel  quale  erano  venute  ad  abboccamcnto. 

La  conferenza  era  terniinata  o  gi}\  la  signora  Vala- 
bert  aveva  accompagnata  la  contessa  all'  uscio  del  sa- 
lotto,  giA  le  due  signore  avevano  vicendevolniente  scam- 


J 


i' 


74  AN  ANONYMOUS  F-RTTKB. 

pHitinjj  snlulations,  fiicndly.  iilthoiijrli  full  of  dignity, 
Avlien  the  nrriviil  of  two  other  porHons  delayed  th«ir 
separntion  a  few  niiiiutes.  One  of  the  two  new  conj- 
ei'rt  was  a  frontlenian  of  al)out  forty  or  forty-fivo  yoara 
of  age,  with  an  open  fate  which  indicated  most  splen- 
did health  and  complete  al)senco  of  all  sorrow.  His 
manners  were  those  of  a  man  who,  although  accus- 
tomed to  mingle  in  high  society,  lacks  grace  and 
elegance  of  carriage.  His  proiwinent  grey  eyes  ex- 
pressed a  constant  satisfacition  and  happiness.  Ha 
held  his  head  aloft  like  those  who,  proud  of  them- 
selves, believe  that  they  ploduco  in  others  the  same 
favorable  impression  they  feel  whenever  they  place 
themselves  before  a  mirror.  Mr.  SaintGilles  had 
left  the  army  at  the  time  of  the  second  restoration  and 
t- frown  himself  into  speculations,  and,  like  many 
ouiei-s,  hud  succeeded  without  knowing  what  he  was 
doing.  Chance  had  made  him  a  wealthy  man  and 
riches  made  him  fat.  The  person  who  accompanied 
him  was  a  young  lady  who  may  have  been  about 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  and  who  appeared  neither 
more  nor  less.  Her  features  had  kept  the  freshness 
and  delicacy  of  youth,  her  smile  was  enchanting  and 
all  her  movements  were  calm,  pleasant  and  Bymmet- 
rical.  Her  beauty  was  not  that  which  strikes  one  at 
the  first  glance,  but  rather  that  which  insinuates  itself 


ElL. 


»f  dignity, 
lyed  their 

now  coni- 
■Hvo  years 
lost  splen- 
•ow.  His 
igh  accua- 
pa{;o  and 
r  eyes  ex- 
loss.     Ho 

of  them- 

tlie  same 
hoy  phice 
rilles  had 
•ation  and 
lie  many 
lit  he  was 

man  and 
ompanied 
5eu  about 
d  neither 
freshness 
iting  and 

syniniet- 
ces  one  at 
utes  itself 


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tJNA  LRTTERA  ANONTMA.  7S 

biato  un  acldio  ainichevole  qnuntun(iue  piono  di  di- 
gnity, allorche  1'  ariivo  di  due  nuove  pei-sone  ritard^ 
di  qnalelie  niinntola  loro  separazione.  L'  uilo  dei  due 
Vfjnuti  era  un  gentiluoinosui  quaranta  ai  quavantacin- 
que  anni  di  eta  con  viso  aperto  annnnziante  la  piu  flo- 
rida  salute  e  la  totale  assenza  di  qualunque  siasi  in- 
torno  dispiacere.  II  suo  niodo  di  agire  era  quello  di 
un  uomo  abituato  a  vivere  nel  gran  mondo,  quantun- 
que  privo  di  giazia.di eleganza e  di  distinzione.  I  suoi 
occhi  grigi  al  livello  della  testa  esprinievano  un  per- 
pctuo  coutento,  Aveva  sempre  il  naso  al  vento  al  pari 
di  coloro  che  superbi  di  loro  stcssi  credono  di  produrre 
sugli  altri  la  stessa  deliziosa  e  fa\orevole  inipressione 
che  sono  soliti  di  esperimentare  alloi'che  si  riniirano  in 
uno  specchio.  II  signor  Saint-Gilles  aveva  abbando- 
nato  il  servizio  militare  all'  epoca  della  seconda  risto- 
razione,  si  era  slanciato  nolle  speculazioni,  ed  al  pai-i 
di  tanti  altri  vi  era  riescito  senza  rendersi  conto  di 
qnanto  facesse.  L'  azzardo  lo  aveva  arricchito  e  la 
ricchezza  lo  ingrassava. 

L'  altra  pei-sona  che  lo  accompagnava  era  una  donna 
tuttavia  gioviue  die  poteva  avere  ventisei  anni  di  ^it•k, 
G  che  non  no  dinicstrava  piii,  nh  uieno.  I  suoi  linea- 
menti  avevano  conservato  la  tinezza  e  la  fresehezza 
della  gloveiitu,  il  suo  sorriso  era  incantatore,  tutti  i 
suoi  movimenti  erano  calmi,  soavi,  siminctrici.  La 
sua  bellezza  non  era  di  quelle  che  colpiscono  a  colpo 
d'  occhio,ma  piuttosto  delle  altre  che  s'  intiltrano  poco 


jB* 


11^. '-WW 


fO  AN  ANONTMOUS  LETTER. 

little  by  little  and  engraves  itself  on  the  heart,  and 
which,  though  scarcely  exciting  desire,  is  yet  the  most 
certain  to  retain  the  love  it  has  produced.  Her  dark 
complexion  was  in  strong  contrsust  with  her  blue  eyes 
and  fair  hair,  but  these  almost  sure  signs  of  a  pas- 
sionate organization,  in  which  ai'e  mixed  two  different 
and  opposite  natures,  voluptuous  langour  anc'  ardent 
vivacity,  were  belied  by  her  quiet  behavior  and  an 
expression  of  kindness.  When  she  used  to  raise  her 
eyes  toward  any  person,  one  would  say  that  she  was 
looking  for  some  grief  to  console,  and  would  suppose 
that  only  the  troubles  of  other  people  could  ruffle  the 
quietness  of  her  soul. 

In  spite  of  all  these  qualities,  Adele  de  Launay  had 
never  been  happy.  At  twenty-one  she  had  married 
a  man  of  twice  lior  age.  Not  having  known  love's 
infatuation,  she  had  not  even  had  the  opportunity  of 
experiencing  that  quiet  happiness  which  surely  pos- 
sesses a  greater  value  and  lasts  longer.  Her  husband 
was  one  of  those  men  without  vices  or  virtues,  whose 
lives  run  from  one  project  to  another,  planning 
schemes  which  are  soon  given  up  for  new  ones ;  one  of 
those  incomplete  natures,  without  will  or  patience, 
that  vegetate  e^■cry where  without  bearing  fruit.  She 
had  followed  him  to  various  cities  where  he  had  gone 
for  foolish  experiments  or  for  unsuccessful  industrial 
speculations,  and  the  clearest  and  most  evident  result 


1 


-K^ 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


77 


a  poco  e  si  scolpiscono  nel  cuore,  e  che  difficili  ad  ecci- 
tare  desiderio,  8onoper5  molto  piu  sicure  di  conservare 
r  amore  che  hanno  saputo  dcstare.  La  sua  bruna  car- 
nagioiie  faceva  contrasto  coi  suoi  capelli  biondi  e  cogli 
occhi  cerulei,  ma  questo  contrasto  indizio  qufisi  certo  di 
una  passionata  organizzazione  nella  quale  sono  confuse 
due  opposte  nature,  il  languore  voluttuoso  e  1'  arden- 
te  vivacity  era  smentito  dal  suo  riservato  contegno  e' 
dall'  espressione  di  bont^  sparsa  sul  suo  volto.  Quan- 
.  d'  essa  alzava  gli  occhi  su  qualche  persona,  sarebbesi 
detto  che  andasse  in  ccrca  di  un  dolore  per  consolarlo, 
e  si  sarebbe  iramagimito  che  soltanto  gli  altrui  atfanni 
potessero  turbare  la  serenity  del  *.uo  anirao. 

'A  dispetto  di  queste  qualittY  Adele  de  Launay  non 
era  mai  stata  felice.  All'  etj\  diventun  anno  maritata 
con  un  uomo  che  aveva  piu  del  doppio  della  sua  eta, 
non  avendo  conosciuto  I'  ebbrezza  dell'  amore  non 
aveva  avuto  1'  occasione  di  provare  la  felicity  tran- 
quilla  che  senza  dubbio  possiede  un  maggior  valore 
e  dura  piii  a  lungo.  Suo  marito  era  uno  di  quegli 
uomini  senza  vizii,  nfe  virtu  dei  ouali  la  vita  trascorre 
passando  da  una  idea  all'  altra,  formando  progetti  che 
vengono  abbandonati  per  altri,  nature  incomplete 
sprowedute  di  pazienza  e  di  volonti  che  vegetano  per 
ogni  dove  senza  produrre  f rutto  alcuno.  Essa  lo  aveva 
accompagnatoin  varie  cittil  dove  erasi  recatoper  falliti 
tentativi,  per  csperienze  mancate,  o  per  speculazioni  in- 
dustriali  andatc  a  vuoto  ed  il  resultato  piii  netto  e  piu 


(1 


1 


::. 


Y8  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

of  all  thesG  journcj-ings  had  always  been  the  same — a 
loss  of  time  and  capital.  Finally,  after  many  years 
of  this  roving  existence,  Mr.  de  Launay,  almost  ruined 
but  not  reformed,  had  been  enticed  into  a  new  scheme 
which  had  allured  him  on  account  of  its  remoteness 
and  the  probability  of  its  success.  With  the  remains 
of  his  fortune,  he  had  laden  a  ship  with  goods  which 
he  intended  to  sell  in  South  America  at  fifty  per 
cent,  profit,  and  this  time  he  had  put  himself  at  the 
head  of  the  expedition,  having  agreed  witn  his  wife 
that  she  should  remain  in  Paris  while  waiting  for 
the  "gallons." 

Of  her  own  dowry  Mrs.  de  Launay  had  saved  a 
hundred  thousand  francs,  which  her  husband  could 
not  touch,  Mrs.  Valabert,  her  distant  cousin,  who 
had  many  times  had  occasion  to  appreciate  her,  had 
requested  her  to  come  and  reside  with  hei*.  Adele 
had  accepted  this  offer,  which  at  the  same  time  leav- 
ing her  free  and  mistress  of  her  own  movements, 
afforded  her  prctection  and  a  home  befitting  her  age 
and  position,  and  she  had  now  been  residing  in  that 
house  for  six  mt)nths. 

Sainl>GiUos,on  perceiving  the  countess  of  Septeuil, 
assumed  a  more  contented  air,  and  his  eyes  were 
enabled  to  express  something  a  little  resembling 
thought.      With  an  awkward  and  very  evident  inten- 


.,.>A.«^:.^..rt.^,.-;^,..J^-^,^f;^|^^^|Hl^|-^^.^.y^|.-~-,-j 


Jfci 


le  same — a 
lany  years 
lost  ruined 
3W  scheme 
'emotencss 
le  remains 
lods  which 
fifty  per 
self  at  the 
n  his  wife 
aiting  for 

id  saved  a 
and  could 
usin,  who 
e  her,  had 
Y.  Adele 
time  leav- 
ovements, 
ig  her  age 
ag  in  that 

I  Septeuil, 
eyes  wei'e 
•esembling 
ient  inten- 


UNA  LETFERA  ANONIMA. 


7S 


manifesto  di  tutti  quei  suoi  viaggi  era  stato  sempre  lo 
stesso,  ima  perdita,  cioe,  tanto  di  tempo,  quanto  di 
capitale. 

Dopo  varii  anni  dl  questa  nomade  esistenza  il  signor 
de  Launay  qaasi  rovinato,  ma  non  corretto  si  era  da 
ultimo  lasciat.)  adescare  da  un  nuovo  progetto  che  lo 
aveva  sedotto  a  cagione  della  loiitananzae  delia  proba 
bilitA  di  successo.  Coi  rimasugli  di  sua  fortuna  aveva 
caricato  un  bastimento  di  oggetti  che  pretendeva  di  ven- 
dcre  al  50-100  di  beneficio  nell'  America  meridionale, 
e  si  era  messo  alia  testa  della  spedizione,  questa  volta 
solo,  giacch^  per  comune  accordo  sua  moglie  rimaneva 
a  Parigi  per  ricevere  i  gallioni. 

.Delia  propria  dote  la  signora  de  Launay  aveva  con- 
servato  un  centomila  lire  che  suo  maiito  non  aveva  po 
tuto  toccare.  La  signora  Valabert  sua  lontana  eugina 
che  spesso  aveva  avuto  1'  occasione  di  apprezzarla, 
V  aveva  pregata  di  recarsi  ad  abitare  con  lei.  Adele 
aveva  accettato  qupsta  proposta  che  lasciandola  al  tempo 
stesso  libera  e  padrona  delle  sue  azioni  le  oflriva  una 
protezione  ed  un  asilo  necessario  alia  sua  etti,  ed  alia 
sua  posizione  isolata  e  gik  da  circa  sei  mesi  ella  viveva 
in  quella  casa,  buona  ed  aflfettuos  i  con  tutti,  discreta  ma . 
non  indifferente  ed  occupandosi  degli  affari  della  fami- 
glia  solo  quando  veniva  consultata. 

Saint-Gilles  nel  vedere  la  contessa  di  Septeuil  as- 
sunse  un'  aria  piii  gioviale  ed  i  suoi  occhi  giunsero 
perfino  ad  esprimere  qualche  cosa  che  rassomigliava 


AH/>.i- 


-A 


JL 


80  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

tion  of  joking,  he  addressed  a  few  compliments  to  the 
noble  hidy,  and  congratulations  upon  meeting  her  at 
Mrs.  Valabert's.  On  her  part,  Adele  de  Launay  had 
contented  herself  with  bowing  to  Mi-s.  Septeuil.  As 
Boon  as  the  countess  had  left,  Saint-Gilles  and  the  two 
ladies  went  into  the  parlor.  There  Mrs.  Valabert 
addressed  Adele  thus : 

"Cousin,  you  well  know  our  agreement,  absolute 
and  full  freedom  as  well  for  you  as  for  me.  This 
morning  you  wished  Saint-Gilles  to  accompany  you 
while  shopping  at  several  places.  Be  pleased  now  to 
give  him  back  to  me  as  we  have  need  to  converse  to- 
gether." 

"Since  you  wish  to  be  alone,  I  will  retire." 

"Before  you  go,"  replied  Mrs.  Valabert,  "allow 
me  to  repair  an  involuntary  negligence.  Yesterday 
I  was  somewhat  ill,  this  morning  you  went  out  early 
without  my  having  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you.  I 
hope  you  have  not  received  bad  news  ? " 

"  None,  my  dear  cousin,"  answered  Adele,  '' and  I 
thank  you  heartily  for  the  interest  you  take  in  all  that 

concerns  me." 

After  these  remarks,  she  retired  to  her  own  apart- 
ments. 

Saint-Gilles  gazed  after  her,  saying: 

"  That  crazy  fellow,  de  Launay,  is  happier  than  he 
deserves  to  be.     Here  is  a  woman  who  loves  him  in 


'vJ^tut 


'xaiviKtiii0-ii»»  lirfi  -|-i"Hlii«Bifi"Mit. . 


■■I 


ments  to  the 
eting  her  at 
Launay  had 
epteuil.  As 
and  the  two 
rs.  Valabert 

ent,  absolute 
r  me.  This 
smpany  you 
sased  now  to 
>  converse  to- 

tire." 

aert,   "allow 

Yesterday 

ent  out  early 

sing  you.    I 

iele,  ''  and  I 
ke  in  all  that 

3r  own  apart- 


}pier  than  he 
loves  him  in 


I 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  81 

;  d  un  pensioro.  Con  una  jcfofta  o  visibilissima  inten- 
/lone  di  nializia,  ei  dirosso  dei  complimenti  alia  nobile 
da  na  e  si  fclicito  d'  incontrarla  in  casa  della  signora 
Valabert.  Dal  suo  lato  Adelo  de  Launay  si  era  con- 
tjntata  di  ealutare  la  signora  di  Septeuil.  Partita  che 
fu  la  oontessa,  Saint-Gilles  e  le  duo  signore  entrarono 
nel  salone.     AUorala  signora  Valabert  disse  ad  Adele. 

"Cugina,  I  ens  pete  i  nostri  patti;  assoluta  e  per- 
fetta  liberty  tualo  per  voi  quanto  per  me.  Questa 
mattina  avete  desiderato  che  il  signor  Saint  Gilles  vi 
accompagnasse  nelle  corse  che  dovevate  fare  per  com- 
prare  diversi  oggetti,  abbiate  adesso  la  bont^  di  resti- 
tuirmelo  giacchfe  abbiamo  bisogno  di  parlare  insieme." 

"Desiderate  rimar^re  soli,  mo  ne  vado." 

"Prima  di  ritirarvi,"  riprese  la  signora  Valabert, 
"  pei'mettetemi  di  riparare  una  volontaria  negligenza. 
So  che  avete  ricevuto  lettere  da  vostro  marito.  ler- 
sora  fui  alquanto  indisposta,  questa  mattina  siete  uscita 
per  tempo  senza  che  avessi  il  pin  cere  di  vedervi. 
Spero  non  abbiate  ricevuto  alcuna  cattiva  notizia." 

"Nessuna,  cara  cugina,"  rispose  Adele  un  po'com- 
mossa,  "e  di  vero  cuore  vi  ringrazio  dell' interesse  che 
prendete  per  tutto  cio  che  mi  concerne," 

Pronunziate  questa  parole  csci  e  si  ritiro  nel  suo  ap- 
pa  tamento. 

Saint-Gilles  le  tenne  dietro  cogli  a^iardi. 

"  Quel  matto  di  de  Launay  h  pi  a  fell  e  di  quello  che 
meriterebbe.     Ecco  una  donna  che  lo  ama  non  ostante 


i 


8§  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTRR. 

spite  of  all  his  extravagances.  If  ho  would  write  her 
to  join  him,  I  would  not  be  surprised  if  she  should  at 
once  obey.  While  he  could  havy  quietly  enjoyed  such 
a  treasure  at  home,  he  became  a  merchant  of  Cologne 
water  and  English  soap  in  the  other  hemisphere. 
There  are  some  persons  who,  although  their  heads 
were  full  of  eyes,  would  not  be  able  to  see  clearly." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mrs.  Valabert,  sadly,  "there  are 
passions  impossible  to  be  explained ;  some  spurn  virtue, 
Bome  do  not  know  vice." 

"Oh  1"  said  SaintrGilles,  who  had  already  without 
ceremony  seated  himself  in  an  easy-chair,  his  legf- 
crossed  and  his  body  reclining,  "what  has  happened? 
Did  the  countess  depart  disappointed  V' 

"Yes,  friend." 

"Why  sol" 

"Because  there  exists  an  obstacle  which  you  do 
not  know,  and  which  we  cannot  say  that  we  will  be 
able  to  overcome." 

"What  is  it?" 

"It  is  just  to  speak  to  you  of  it  and  to  ank  your 
advice  that  I  have  wished  to  be  alone  with  you.  ' 

Mrs.  Valabert  brought  another  easy-chair  near  Mr. 
Saint-Gilles,  and  sat  down  beside  him. 

Before  we  let  them  begin  their  confidences,  it  is 
necessary  to  explain  briefly  the  friendship  which 
existed  between  tJiese  two  persons  : 


«J'a[iJr38ii.ii[BteffiataAiiffetf';.i 


1 


write  her 
should  at 
[)yctl  such 
f  Cologne 
misphere. 
eir  heads 
early." 
'  there  are 
irn  virtue, 

y  without 
,  his  legt* 
mppened  ? 


h  you  do 
re  will  be 


ask  yuur 
you.  ' 
■  near  Mr. 

noes,  it  is 
lip  which 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  83 

tutto  le  sue  stravuganze.  Se  egli  le  scrivesse  di  an- 
dare  a  raggiungorlo  non  sarci  aliutto  sorpreso  ch'  ella 
r  ubbidirebbe  subito,  Mentre  avrebbe  potato  tran- 
quillamento  godei-si  tale  toHoro  eccolo  chc  pensa  di 
farsi  negoziante  di  a«qua  di  Cologna  e  di  Hnpone  in- 
glese  neir  altro  emist'eio.  Vi  sono  poreone  che  anche 
colla  testa  circoudata  da  miilo  occhi  nan  urrivertibbero 
a  vedervi  chiaro." 

*'Si,"  rispose  tristainente  la  signora  Valabert,  "esi- 
stono  pasaioni  impossibili  a  spiegarsi,  taluni  disprez- 
zano  la  virtu,  altri  non  sanno  couoscere  il  vizio." 

-"Ehl  buon  Dio!"  disse  Saint-Gillcs,  che  giA  erasi 
seduto  senza  ceniuionie  colle  gambe  accavalcate  ed  il 
dosso  rovesciato  fjulla  spalliera  di  unit,  poltrona;  "cosa 
h  mai  accaduto?  Forse  la  contessa  se  n'  ^  ita  dispia- 
ciuta?" 

"S\,amico." 

"Ebbene?" 

"  Ebbene,  hawi  un  ostacolo  che  vol  non  conoscete, 
e  non  so  se  riescircmo  a  sormontarlo." 

"Quale?" 

"  Ho  voluto  rimanere  sola  con  voi  appunto  per  ren. 
dervene  istrutto  e  doniandarvi  il  vostio  consifflio." 

La  signora  Valabert  avvicino  una  poltrona  e  s'  assise 
al  fianco  di  Saint>Gilles. 

.Prima  di  lasciarla  corainc'iare  la  sua  confidcnza  fa 
d'  uopo  61  spiegare  con  poche  parole  1'  amicizia  ch'  esi. 
steva  f ra  queste  due  persone. 


I 


84  AX  ANONYMOUS  LKTTER. 

Siiiiit-Gilka  was  a  bachelor,  Mre.  Valabcrt  was  a 
widow,  but  whi(!h  is  rarely  the  case,  their  relations 
were  truly  based  upon  pure  and  holy  friendnhip. 
Julius'  mother  was  virtuous  not  only  on  account  of 
her  training,  but  by  nature.  Cold  and  calm  in  her 
youth,  she  had  never  admitted  the  possibility  of  a 
fault,  and  the  love  which  enraptured  the  senses,  love 
without  mairiago,  was  considered  by  her  a  chimera 
or  a  vice  without  excuse,  like  hypocrisy,  falsehood  or 
theft. 

Saint-Gilles  had  received  many  favors  from  Mrs. 
Valrtbert,  for  which  he  had  shown  himself  very  grate- 
ful. ,  He  continued  to  visit  the  widow,  and  little  by 
little  made  himself  indispensable  to  her.  He  had  no 
etiuai  in  bestowing  trifling  attentions  and  in  busying 
himself  with  other  people's  alFairs.  Always  at  the 
disposal  of  whoever  needed  him,  he  collected  rents, 
canvassed  for  mortgages  to  place  money,  arranged 
preliminaries  of  marriages  and  took  upon  himself  all 
sorts  of  troubles  and  every  kind  of  work.  In  short, 
he  was  a  most  clever  and  indefatigable  '• '■factotum.'" 

"Friend,"  began  Mrs.  Valabert,  "to  you  am  I 
indebted  for  the  acquaintance  of  the  coimtess  of  Sep- 
teuil.  You  were  the  first  who  thought  of  this  mar- 
riage, so  advantageous  for  my  son.  The  count<>8s 
gave  her  consent  to  this  union,  and  has  given  me  the 
assurance  that  her  daughter  had  no  opposition  to  it 
whatever.    With  sorrow  I  have  discovered  a  secret 


i 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  85 

Shint-Gillea  non  era  ttiiTmogliuto,  hi  sipjnora  Vala- 
b«rt  era  vedovu,  ma,  cosa  rara,  le  loro  rclazioni  erano 
realinentti  l)a8ato  sulla  pura  c  santa  amici/ia.     La  ma- 
dre  di  Ginlio  era  virtuosa  non  solo  a  cagiono  doi  prin- 
cipii  ricevuti,  nia  anche  per  natura.     Froddti  e  calma, 
nolla  sua  gioventu  nonavevamai  anuncsso  per  un  solo 
instante  la  possibilittV  di  una  colpa,  e  1'  amore  che  com- 
miiove  i  sensi,  1'  amove  sonza  il  matrimonio  era  da  lei 
considerato  quale  una  chimera,  oppuro  quale  un  vizio 
senza  scuwa  simile  all'  ipocrisia,  alia  bugia,  al  furto. 
^  Saint^Gillos  aveva  ricevuto  dal  signor  Valabert  dei 
favori  pei  quali  erasi  mostrato  riconosconto.    Egli  con- 
tinuo  di  far  visita  alia  vedova  e  pr)Co  a  pocx)  si  rese  in- 
dispensabile.     Egli  non  aveva  il  huo  eguale  per  le  pic- 
cole  attenzioni  e  per  occuparsi  degli  aft'ari  altrui. 
Sempre  a  disposizione  di  chiunque  volesso  servirsi  di 
lui  egli  riscuoteva  le  rendite,andava  in  cerca  d'  ipotechc 
pel  coUocamente  di  somme  di  danaro,  cominciava  pre- 
liminari  di  matrimonio,  s'  incaricava  di  tutte  le  com- 
missioni  ed  accettava  qualunque  f  atica.    Insomma  era 
il  factottim  il  piii  intelligente  ed  il  piii  instancabile. 

"  Amico,"  cominci6  la  signora  Valabert,  "a  voi  vado 
debitore  della  conoscenza  della  signora  contessa  di 
Septeuil;  foste  voi  che  il  primo  pensaste  ad  un  matrimo- 
nio che  sarebbe  cosi  avvantaggioso  per  mio  figlio.  La 
contessa  accord6  il  suo  consenso  e  mi  ha  accertato  che 
sua  iiglia  non  vi  metteva  ostacolo.  Con  mio  dispia- 
oere  ho  saputo  un  segreto  ch'  io  sospettava  gi^  da 


■4 


fi 


r 


J. 


86  AN  ANONYMOUS  LEITER. 

which  for  a  long  time  I  had  suspected,  namely,  that 
Julius  huA  a  guilty  relation  with  a  person  whom  he  is 
passionately  in  love  with." 

"Oh!"  replied  Saint-Gilles   in  a  very  easy  way, 
"at  his  age  that  is  a  very  coininon  occurrence." 

"  Yes,  but  he  will  not  part  from  this  woman  I " 

"Poh  !  Julius  is  a  young  man  of  spirit,  who  will 
not  sacrifice  his  future  to  a  caprice.  Be  at  ease.  Be- 
sides, he  knows  of  the  negotiations  begun  with  the 
countess  and  he  has  already  seen  her  daughter.  It  is 
true  that  he  has  not  consented,  openly  but  neither  has 
he  refused.  If  he  Lad  not  had  good  intentions,  he 
would  not  have  let  us  take  these  steps,  since  at  the 
point  where  we  now  stand  it  would  be  almost  impos- 
sible to  break  them  oil'  without  a  strong  and  reason- 
able motive." 

''We  have  not  positively  consulted  him,  and  only 
taken  his  silence  for  consent.  Perhaps  Julius  does 
not  even  know  that  the  countess  came  this  morning  to 
visit  me.  Do  not  be  mistaken  about  the  character  of 
my  son.  I  can  and  do  know  it  better  than  you.  He 
is  a  man  who  waits  for  the  last  moment,  not  to  make 
a  definite  decision,  but  only  to  communicate  to  you 
his  resolve.  To  display  courage,  he  needs  to  feel 
danger.  He  loves  me,  it  is  true,  but  if  his  love  is 
sincere  and  deep,  he  will  not  yield  to  me." 

"And  who  is  the  object  of  his  passion?"  asked 


gW.i  iSiS  i";Wi»te<wM<a'i1ir  WiiiiMmTiitui 


<iyilMi%8firifViMiiijrriiiiaii»uaiMiilfi^ 


lamely,  that 
whom  he  is 

J  easy  way, 
•ence." 
»man  I " 
•it,  who  will 
t  ease.  Be- 
rn with  the 
irhter.  It  is 
t  neither  has 
tentions,  he 
since  at  the 
most  impos- 
and  reason- 

tn,  and  only 
Julius  does 
morning  to 
character  of 
a  you.  He 
lot  to  make 
3ate  to  you 
jeds  to  feel 
his  love  is 

an?"  asked 


UNA  LEITEIIA  ANONIMA.  87 

lango  tempo.    Giulio  manliene  una  colpevole  amicizia 
cou°una  donna  deUa  quale  egli  h  appassionatamcnte 

innamorato. 

"Ah!"  osserv6  tranquillamenle  Saint-Gilles,  "alia 

gua  et^  ^  cosa  comunissima." 

' '  Se  pero  egli  non  volesse  separarsi  da  quella  donna. " 

"Bah?  Giulio  fe  un  giovine  di  spirito  che  non  sa- 
grificherebbe  il  suo  avvenire  per  un  capriccio  di  gio- 
venth  1  Siate  tranquilla.  D'  altra  parte  egli  conosce 
le  trattative  intavolatecolla  contessa  e  gi^  ne  ha  veduto 
la  figlia.  Vero  ^  ch'  egli  non  ha  apertamente  espresso 
la  sua  volenti  aflfermativa,  ma  nenimeno  ha  rifiutato. 
Se  non  avesse  buone  intenzioni  ei  aon  avrebbe  fatto 
fare  questi  passi.  Al  punto  in  cui  ci  troviamo  c'  fe 
impossibile  d'  indietreggiare  e  rompere  senza  un  forte 
e  plausibile  motivo." 

"Noi  non  lo  abbiamo  positivamente  consultato,  e 
solo  abbiamo  preso  il  suo  silenzio  per  un  consenso. 
Giulio  fors'  anche  ignora  quanto  f ra  noi  h  stato  con- 
venuto,  e  nemmeno  sa  che  stamattina  la  eontessa  fe 
venuta  a  farmi  visita.  Non  prendete  errore  sul  carat- 
tere  di  mio  figlio,  io  posso  conoscerlo  e  lo  conosco 
meglio  di  voi,  egli  h  1'  uomo  che  aspetta  1'  ultimo  mo- 
mentonon  gi^  per  prendereuna  risoluzione  definitiva, 
ma  solo  per  fame  parte.  Egli  ha  bisogno  di  sentire  il 
pericolo  per  avere  il  coraggio.  Mi  ama,  e  vero,  ma 
se  il  suo  amore  h  sincere  e  profondo  non  mi  cederA." 

«*E  qual'  6  r  oggetto  di  questa  sua  passione?"  do- 


■'? 


88  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

Saint-Gillcs,  ''perhaps  some  common  woman?    per- 
haps an  actress  ?  perhaps  a  dancer  ? " 

"  Whoever  she  may  be,  she  must  be  a  womnn  of 
loose  habits,"  replied  Mrs.  Valabert,  "as  I  have  -been 
told  she  is  young  and  beautiful;  she  belongs  to  an 
honest  family,  and  unhappily  it  seems  that  she  has 
received  a  splendid  education.     She  is  a  piano  teacher, 

by  name,  Fanny " 

"  Fanny  Dusmenil  ? " 
"Exactly  that.  Do  you  know  her? " 
"  Certainly.  For  some  time  she  gave  lessons  to 
my  little  niece.  Beautiful  creature  1  a  beautiful  mor- 
sel, I  swear  to  you.  What  eyes !  What  beautiful 
hands  !  and  to  all  that  she  adds  talent,  great  talent 
indeed  !  Julius  saw  her  at  my  sister's  house.  One 
day  she  sent  a  message  notifying  us  that  she  could 
not  come  any  more.  No  one  could  guess  the  reason 
of  such  a  resolve,  but  now  it  is  all  explained.  Upon 
my  word,  nobody  would  have  surmised  it  With 
her  modest  demeanor,  she  must  be  an  old  fox.  She 
must  not  be  allowed  to  go  unpunished.  Where  does 
she  reside  'i " 

"Near  here,  in  Furstemberg  street, I  believe." 

"I  will  run  there  at  once,"  said  Saint-Gilles,  rising. 

"Dear  friend,  I  never  doubted  your  interest  in  me 

and  for  all  that  concerns  me.    Before  tixking  any  steps, 

I  must  ask  another  favor.     Instead  of  going  to  see  this 

young  girl,  who  would  surely  complain  of  it  to  Julius, 


I  ?    per- 

)mnn  of 
ve  -been 
j;9  to  an 
she  hfis 
teacher, 


ssons  to 
ful  mor- 
)eaiitiful 
at  talent 
e.  One 
lie  could 
e  reason 
Upon 
.  With 
>x.  She 
ere  does 

ve." 

3,  rising. 
!st  in  me 
ay  steps, 
0  see  this 
9  Julius, 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  89 

mand6  Saint-Giles, '  'f orse  qualche  donnicciuola  1   Forse 
un  attrice  ?    Forse  una  ballerina  ? " 

"  Chiunque  essa  sia,  percerto  dev'  essere  una  donna 
di  perduti  costimi,"  riprese  la  signora  Valabert,  "a 
quanto  mi  si  disse  h  giovine,  bella,  appartiene  ad 
un'  onesta  famiglia  e  per  sventura  ha  ricevuto  una 
distinta  educazione.  E'  una  maestra  di  musica  a 
nomo  Fanny . . . . " 

♦'  Fanny  Dusmenil  ? " 

"  Appunto  la conoscete  forse? " 

*'Per  Baccol  Per  qualche  tempo  dette  lezioni  ad 
una  mia  nipotina.  Bellissima  creatura !  bel  boccone  ! 
ve  lo  giuro;  un  portamento!  e  poi,  e  poi,  che  oo- 
chil  che  mani  superbe  1  a  tutto  questo  aggiungete 
del  talento,  e  molte  anchel  Giulio  1'  ha  veduta  da 
mia  sorella.  Un  bel  giorno  essa  mando  ad  avvisare 
che  non  sarebbe  piii  venuta;  s'  ignorava  11  motivo  di 
una  cosl  fatta  risoluzione;  eccolo  conosciuto  adesso; 
aff^  mia,  nessuno  lo  avrebbe  suj  posto.  CoUasua  aria 
modesta  dev'  essere  volpe  e  jhia.  Non  bisogna  che 
creda  di  passarsela  cosi  liscia.     Dove  abita  ? " 

"Qui  vicino,  via  Furstemberg,  cos'i  credo." 

"Vicorro  subito,"  disse  Saint-Gilles,  alzandosi. 

"  Amico  non  ho  mai  posto  in  dubbio  il  vostro  affetto 
per  me  e  la  vostra  premura  per  quanto  possa  interes- 
sarmi.  Prima  di  fare  qualunque  passo  debbo  doman- 
darvi  un  altro  favore.  Invece  di  vedere  questa  gio. 
vine  che  se  ne  lamenterebbe  con  Giulio,  snaturando  le 


't 


[• 


I ; 


QO  AN  ANONYMOUS  LKTTEB. 

exaggerating  your  words,  would  it  not  be  better  to  ad- 
dress your  remarks  to  my  son  ?  I  hcsit"te  to  speak 
to  him.  He  is  no  more  a  boy ;  I  cannot  scold  him, 
and  in  spite  of  my  love  I  could  with  great  diffi- 
culty decide  to  be  a  witness  to  his  blindness  and  to 
hear  him  praise  the  woman  who  deceives  him,  f(»r 
how  can  we  believe  in  the  virtue  of  a  woman  who 
even  for  once  has  forgotten  her  duty  ?  '" 

"It  was  my  intention,"  answered  Saint-Gilles,  "to 
employ  the  quickest  means  to  cut  the  evil  at  its  root; 
but,  as  you  wish  it,  I  will  speak  to  Julius.  It  is 
impossible  that  he  will  not  recollect  himself.  Did 
they  tell  you  that  he  intended  to  marry  her  ? " 
"  No,  but  if  perchance  he  were  about  to  do  so  ? " 
"Oh!  before  all,"  replied  Saint-Gilles,  "we  must 
not  trust  this  princess.  I  pretend  to  be  a  good  physi- 
ognomist, and  yet  I  would  have  given  her  the  com- 
munion without  confession.  We  have  no  time  to  lose ; 
all  these  creatures  have  a  fondness  for  marriage.  I 
hope  Julius  will  open  his  eyes.  He  is  in  love.  Very 
well ;  he  will  fall  in  love  with  his  bride,  who  is  also  a 
beautiful  woman,  and  after  eight  days  he  will  think 
of  the  other  no  more.  After  all,  we  have  a  last  re- 
source to  dry  the  tears  of  his  Ariadne.  What  does 
she  wish  for?  A  position?  money?  we  will  giVe  her 
half  of  what  she  asks,  showing  ourselves  good  and 
settling  the  matter  conveniently.  With  twenty  to 
twenty-five  bills  of  a  thousand  each,  all  will  be  made 


tter  to  ad- 
e  to  speak 
cold  him, 
;reat  diffi- 
388  and  to 

I  him,  f(»r 
oman  who 

Jilles,  "to 
it  its  root; 
us.  It  is 
self.  Did 
?" 

do  so  ? " 
"we  must 
ood  physi- 
r  the  com- 
ne  to  lose ; 
image.  1 
)ve.  Very 
10  is  idso  a 
will  think 
a  last  re- 
Vhat  does 

II  give  her 
good  and 

twenty  to 
I  be  made 


UNA  UlTTERA  ANONIMA. 


91 


vostre  parole  non  sarcbbe  forse  meglio  di  dirigersi  a 

mio  liglio  ?     lo  esito  a  parlargli,  egli  non  e  piii  un  fan 

ftiullo,  non  posso  sgridarlo  e  malgrndo  il  mio  amore 

per  lui  difficilmente  mi  docidcrei  di  cssere  tcstimone 

del  suo  accccamento  e  sentirgli  fare  1'  clogio  di  quella 

donna  che  certamente  loinganna;  perocchL'  come  poter 

prestar  fede  alia  virtu  di  una  donna  che  per  una  sola 

volta  sia  giunta  a  dimenticare  il  proprio  dovere?" 
"Era  mia  intenzionc,"  disse  Saint-Gilles,  "  d' im- 

piegarc  i  mezzi  piu  solleciti  e  tagliare  il  male' alia  ra- 
dice.  Giaccli'  y<H  volete  cosi,  parlero  a  Giulio.  Egli 
e  impossibile  che  non  rientri  in  se  stesso.  Vi  hanno 
detto  s'  egli  intenda  sposarla?  " 

"  No,  ma  se  si  decidesse  a  fare  questa  follia." 
"  Oh  !  prima  di  tutto,"  ripiglio  Saint-Gilles,  "  non 
bisogna  fidarsi  di  questa  principessa.  lo  che  ho  la 
pretcnzione  di  essere  buon  fisionomista  le  avrei  dato 
la  communione  senza  confessione.  Non  vi  e  tempo  da 
perdcre;  tutte  queste  creature  hanno  la  mania-di  vo 
lersi  fare  sposare.  Giulio  aprirti,  gli  occhi.  E'  amo- 
roso? Sia  pure;  egli  araerA  sua  raoglie  che  pure  h 
bella,  in  otto  giomi  non  penserA  piu  all'  altra.  In  fin 
dei  conti  avvi  un  mezzo  sicuro  per  asciugare  il  pianto 
della  sua  Arianna.  Che  cosa  vuol'  essad  una  posi- 
zione,  del  danaro,  le  si  dark  la  metA  di  quello  che  pre- 
tende  mostrandosi  cosi  buoni,  ed  ac<  omodando  le  cose 
convenevolmente.  Venti  a  vcnticinque  biglietti'  da 
mille  e  tutto  andii  bene.     Con  questo  danaro  si  VDmk 


■■'       ■"■      ■ ■"■■■ 


9S  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

right  With  this  sum  we  shall  send  this  young  lady 
to  hei*  penates  and  her  music  with  variations,  and 
after  a  time  she  will  many  some  young  ai-tist,  whom 
she  will  make  happy.  I  will  take  it  into  my  hands 
and  then  who  shall  know  ?  Though  I  am  not  severe 
like  you,  I  think  it  really  very  probable  and  possible 
that  she  may  deceive  Julius.  I  can  easily  believe  that 
a  woman,  if  mistress  of  itself,  can  very  well  avoid 
lovers,  but  as  soon  as  I  know  she  has  a  lover,  I  am 
justified  in  supposing  her  with  two  lovers.  We  shall 
see  ;  and  while  you  are  awaiting  the  result,  try  to  cheer 
yourself." 

The  conversation  was  pursued  a  little  longer,  and 
Saint-GUles  temporarily  persuadeci  iSIis.  Valabert  not 
to  alarm  herself  and  to  continue  the  negotiations  with 
the  countess.  His  arguments  with  Julius  did  not 
secure  the  result  desired.  The  reader  will  excuse  us 
from  repeating  here  the  very  excellent  reasons  he 
presented  and  urged  in  speaking  to  Julius ;  it  will  be 
enough  for  him  to  know  that  none  of  them  were  re- 
ceived with  favor.  Saint-Giiles  belonged  to  that  class 
of  persons  who  believe  in  being  useful  to  others  by 
giving  them  advice  for  which  they  have  not  asked. 

The  h.ippy  tranquillity  of  that  family  was  com- 
pletely changed.  Julius,  fearing  his  mother's  tears 
and  prayei-s,  avoided  her  presence  as  much  as  possible, 
and,  when  with  her,  kept  a  cold  silence.  Vainly  Adele 
de  Launay  endeavored  to  enliven  the  couveraation. 


UNA  LETTEBA  ANONIMA. 


93 


(Toung  lady 
ations,  and 
■tist,  whom 
>  my  hands 
not  severe 
nd  possible 
believe  that 
well  avoid 
lover,  I  am 
We  shall 
try  to  cheer 

longer,  and 
alabert  not 
iations  with 
us  did  not 
i  excuse  us 
I'casons  he 
; ;  it  will  bo 
jm  were  re- 
to  that  class 
:o  others  by 
ot  asked. 
•  was  com- 
ither's  tears 
as  possible, 
ainly  Adele 
)avei'sation. 


derA.  la  signorina  ai  suoi  penati  ed  alia  sua  musica 
con  variazioni  e  col  tempo  sposeri  un  artista  ch'  essa 
renderilk.  felice.  lo  m'  inoarico  delle  trattativo.  E  poi 
chi  sa<!  Senz'  essere  aevero  al  pari  di  voi,  nel  fon- 
do  penso  essere  cosa  probabile  anzi  possibilissima 
ch'  ella  inganni  Giulio.  Pos  o  ben  credere  che  una 
donna,  abbenche  assoluta  padrona  di  ah  stessa,  faccia  a 
nieno  di  amanti,  pero  dal  momento  in  cui  vengo  a  sa- 
pere  ch'  essa  ne  ha  uno,po8so  anche  supporgliene  due. 
Vedremo  ! ed  aapettsmdo  fatevi  buon'  animo." 

La  conversazione  prohingossi  ancora  un  poco,  e 
Saint-Gilles  proArvisoriamente  indusse  la  signora  Vala- 
bert  a  non  allannarsi  ed  a  continuarc  Ic  trattative  coUa 
contessa  di  Septeuil.  La  sua  eloquenza  non  produsse 
BU  Giulio  il  risultato  ch'  erasene  ripromesso.  Ii  lettore 
vorrA,  dispensarci  dal  ripetere  qui  tutte  le  eccellentis- 
sime  ragioni  da  lui  addotte  e  fatte  valere  parlando  con 
Giulio,  gli  basti  solo  sapere  come  nessuna  di  quelle 
ragioni  fu  da  quest'  ultimo  accolta  favorevolmente.' 

Saint-Gilles  apparteneva  allaclasse  di  quelle  persone 
("he  credono  di  essere  utili  ad  altre  prodigando  avvisi 
e  consigli  che  nessuno  loro  domanda. 

La  pacifica  vita  di  quella  famiglia  era  totalmente 
mutata.  Giulio  temendo  i  pianti  e  le  preghiere  di 
sua  madre,  quanto  piu  poteva,  n'  evitava  la  presen 
za  ed  alloich^  si  trovava  con  lei  manteneva  un 
freddo  silenzio.  Invano  Adele  de  Launay  si  sforzava 
di  riauiniave  la  conversazione.     Essa  si  mostrava  buo- 


i 


1 


IP 
1  ill 

!  !! 


94  AN  ANONY3IOU8  LETTER. 

She  showed  herself  more  than  usually  good,  thought- 
ful and  amiable,  but  no  explanation  had  ever  taken 
place  in  her  presence ;  neither  had  she  been  admitted 
into  confidence,  so  that,  granted  that  she  did  not  know 
the  cause  of  this  coldness,  she  was  in  no  way  author- 
ized to  provoke  a  decisive  explanation.  Julius,  on 
the  other  hand,  had  completely  concealed  from  Fanny 
the  opposition  he  experienced  from  his  mother,  whose 
mouth-i)iece  was  Saint-Gilles.  He  strengthened  him- 
self in  the  resistance,  always  fearing  the  moment  when 
in  an  irrc\()cable  manner  ho  would  be  obliged  to  sig- 
nify his  tirni  resolve.  He  hoped  that  Saint-Gilles, 
acknowledging  the  inutility  of  his  attempt  and  tired 
of  the  struggle,  would  cease  his  annoyance. 

In  this  false  situation  many  days  passed,  but  the 
end  must  necessarily  come.  One  morning  Mrs.  Val- 
abert's  house  took  on  the  a^)pcarance  of  festivity ;  the 
servants  were  going  and  coming  with  a  busy  air. 
Julius,  on  returning  home  at  noon,  noticed  all  this 
stir,  and  was  s»t  a  loss  to  know  how  to  accoimt  for  it. 
Just  as  he  was  going  to  ask  the  rejison  of  it,  the  door 
of  the  parlor  in  which  he  was,  opened.  Mi*s.  Vala- 
bert  was  coming  from  her  apartments,  dressed  and  in 
the  act  of  going  out.  Stopping  before  her  son,  she 
said  to  him : 

"  1  am  very  glad  to  meet  you.  I  hope  that  you 
will  have  no  engagement  for  this  afternoon,  and  if 
you  intend  to  be  out,  I  beg  you  to  sacrifice  this  even 


<.-AUfc.*^.V.*g.!4i»«U«.«ar 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


S8 


,  thought- 
VGY  taken 
admitted 
not  know 
ly  author- 
nlius,  on 
)m  Fanny 
ler,  whose 
)ned  him- 
icnt  when 
fed  to  sig- 
int-Gilles, 
and  tired 

I,  but  the 
Mra.  Val- 
ivity;  the 
busy  air. 
d  till  this 
mt  for  it. 
,  the  door 
li-s.  Vala- 
>ed  and  in 
r  son,  she 

that  you 
)n,  and  if 
this  even- 


na,  previdento,  amabilo  piii  del  solito,  ma  in  sua  pre- 
sen/a  non  venivano  scambiato  s))iegazioni,  ne  cssa 
domandava  di  esscre  chianiata  in  conlidenza,  di  ma- 
nicra  ehe  ignorando  hi  cagiono  di  quella  freddez/.a, 
non  [)()teva  in  ulcun  modo  provocareuna  decisiva  spie 
gazione.  Dal  canto  suo  Giiilio  aveva  lasciato  Fanny 
all'  (i.scuro  dell'  opposizione  ch'  egli  incontrava  du 
parte  di  sua  mntlre,  della  quale  Saint-Gilles  era  il  por- 
tiivoce.  Egli  s'  incorraggiava  nella  resistenza,  seni- 
pro  paventando  il  monicnto  in  cui  avrebbe  dovuto  in 
una  maniera  irrevocabile  significare  la  sua  ferma  de- 
cisione.  Egli  sperava  che  Saint-Gilles  riconoscendo 
1'  inutilitsV  dei  suoi  tentativi  e  stanco  di  lotta  rinun- 
ziercbbe  alle  suo  ossessioni. 

In  questa  falsa  si tuazione  passarono  cos\  varii  giorni; 
pero  di  necessitii  doveva  avere  una  tine.  Un  bel  mat- 
tino  la  casa  della  signora  Valabert  prese  un  aspetto  di 
festa;  i  servitori  andavano  e  venivano  con  un'  aria  af- 
faccendata.  Giulio,  rientrundo  a  mezzod^,rimarcu  tutto 
quel  mo\imento,  ne  sapeva  a  che  cosa  attribuirlo.  Gid 
ei  correva  a  domandarne  laspiegazione,allorche  I'uscio 
del  salotto  in  cui  si  trovava  si  aprl.  La  signora  Vala- 
bert veniva  dal  suo  apj)ai'tamento,  pronta  ad  uscire. 
Fcrmandosi  innanzi  al  hglio  gli  disse : 

"  Sono  contentissima  d'  incontrarvi,  spero  che  questo 
dopo  pranzo  non  abbiate  alcun'  affare  d'  imporianza ; 
e  se  la  vostraintenzione  fosse  di  non  rimanere  in  casa, 
vi  pregh    ei  per  quest'  oggi  di  farmi  il  sagrificio  dcUu 


:i 


96  ,  AK  ANONYMOUS  CiRTTER. 

ing  to  mo,  ns  1  am  expecting  u  numerous  compnny.'* 

"  >VTiom  ? " 

"Many  friends,  among  whom  will  be  the  countess 
of  Septeuil  and  her  daughter." 

"Madam  ! "  interrupted  Julius. 

But  his  mother,  who  had  spoken  these  words  almost 
huiTiedly,  as  one  who  could  see  no  reason  for  objec- 
tion, had  already  crossed  the  parlor.  A  servant  came 
to  tell  her  that  the  carriage  was  ready. 

In  his  first  emotion  of  surprise,  Julius  had  let  her 
go.  Immediately  he  understood  that  by  disposing  of 
him  in  such  a  way  his  mother  had  made  the  last 
oflfort  In  that  manner  he  would  have  l)een  under 
the  necessity  of  letting  othei-s  believe  in  his  silent  ap- 
proval, or  by  refusing  to  be  present  to  break  all  the 
negotiations  in  an  unforeseen  way,  which  could  have 
been  considered  bad  manners,  and  would  have  com- 
promised even  his  mother.  And  yet  this  was  the 
only  course  left  to  him. 

This  elaborate  snare,  so  easily  to  be  avoided,  in 
which  they  were  trying  to  entrap  him,  was  more  un- 
bearable than  serious  and  strong  obstacles.  He  had 
seated  himself,  pondering  how  to  act.  Julius  thought 
himself  alone,  and  was  amazed  to  feel  a  hand  laid 
on  the  back  of  his  easy  chair,  while  a  sweet  voice  thus 
spoke  : 

"You  are  sad,  cousin;  is  it  not  true i" 


i'.'iM^ifcSri^SWW-  •"' 


■  -M  tfi.tfr^^m^'i 


,  )♦ 


npnny 
QountetiH 


s  almost 
ir  objec- 
nt  cimie 

let  her 
osing  of 
the  liist 
1  under 
ilent  np- 
c  nil  the 
lid  have 
ve  com- 
rvas  the 

ided,  in 
lore  un- 
Hehad 
thought 
md  laid 
ice  thus 


UNA  LETTRRA  ANONIMA. 


97 


vostra  sera  giaccho   uspetto  numerosn  compagnia. " 

"Chir' 

"  Varii  amici  e  fra  gli  altri  la  oontesua  di  Septeuil 
con  sua  figlia," 

•'  Signora  1 "  interruppe  Giulio. 

Ma  gill  sua  madre,  che  aveva  pronun/.iato  queste 
parole  in  frett:»,  quasi  non  prevedesse  ulcuna  obiezione 
aveva  attraveraato  la  sala.  Un  domestico  era  venuto 
ud  annunziarle  come  la  carrozza  fosse  pronta. 

Nel  8UO  primo  movimento  di  sorpresa,  Giulio  1'  ave 
va  lasciata  partire.  A  prima  vista  ei  cap!  come  quel 
C08\  dispon'e  del  la  sua  persona  fosse  uno  sforzo  di- 
sperato.  In  cotesto  modo  ei  si  sarebbe  trovato  nella 
necessity,  o  di  lasciar  credere  al  suo  tacito  consenso 
assistendo  alia  seratu,  ovvero,  ricusandovisi,  di  essere 
forzato  di  romperla  in  una  certa  maniera  impreve- 
duta  e  che  poteva  essere  tacciata  di  cattiva  educa- 
zione,  cosa  che  avrebbe  potuto  eziandio  compromet- 
tere  la  madre.  Eppure  quello  si  era  11  solo  partite  che 
gli  rimaneva 

Questa  elaborata  trappola  cos!  facile  ad  evitarsi  e 
nella  quale  si  cercava  di  farlo  cadere  gli  era  piu  insof- 
fribile  di  ostacoli  serii  o  forti.  Egli  si  era  seduto  e 
pensava  a  trarsi  da  quell'  imbarazzo.  Giulio  credeva 
di  essere  solo  e  fu  sorpreso  nel  sentire  una  mano  po- 
sarsi  sulla  spalliera  della  sua  poltrona,  nel  mentre  che 
una  voce  dolce  cos!  si  (Bsprimeva  : 

"Siete  afflitto,  buon  cugino,  non  h  egli  vero  ? " 


08  AN  ANONYMOUS  I-KTlKlt. 

"Julius  turned  nnd  saw  Mrs.  de  Lannuy  gazing  at 
him  with  intoro>t. 

"How  long  hiivo  yon  been  there?"  ho  nskcd.  "I 
do  not  remember  having  seen  you  come  in." 

"I  was  in  your  motlier's  room.  I  arrived  just 
wjjen  she  left  the  drawing-room,  but  lovers  have  nci- 
th(!r  eara  nor  eyes,  and  I  am  not  offended  at  your 
altsentmindedness.     All  your  attention  must  be  given 

U)  IIER." 

"Then  you  know  all?" 

"Yes;  this  evening  party  had  already  been  arranged 
four  days  ago.  It  is  a  little  plot  prepared  by  Mr. 
Saint-Gilles,  to  which  my  cousin  has  given  her  con- 
sent. Neither  the  former  nor  the  latter  will  believe 
that  your  love  is  deep  and  sincere."     ' 

"And  do  you  believe  it  to  be  so  'i " 

"I?  I  ought  to  have  been  a  diviner,  as  neither 
you  nor  your  mother  ever  spoke  to  me  of  it.  All 
that  I  do  know  I  have  learned  from  your  sadness  and 
from  some  few  words  heard  by  chimce  or  willingly 
listened  to." 

"If  they  had  consulted  you,  what  would  have  been 
your  answer  ? " 

"  I  should  have  refused  to  enter  into  this  plot." 

"Why?" 

"Because  one  cannot  betray  one's  allies." 

"  Then  you  pity  me." 

"If  I  had  not,  would  you  have  seen  me  here? " 


*fr«fliw*awwit,'»,-^**'iv.«»'*'">f."3n 


UNA  LRllT-RA  ANONTMA.  v" 

Gnilio  si  rlvolso  o  soorse  la  slgnorii  do  Lnnnny  che 
lo  riinirfiva  con  intcrosso. 

«'Da  quanto  tt'inpo  oravnte qui  ? "  le  <loinatul(\ 

"Non  mi  sovvengo  di  avcrvi  vodulo  cntiai'c." 

«'Mi  trovavtt  nella  camera  di  vostra  madro,  sono  ar- 
rivata  appunlo  al  momonto  in  cui  ossa  nsciva;  pcrtN  le 
poi-Hone  innamoralo  non  vcdono,  n<'  ascoltano;  no  mi 
ollVndo  dclla  vostia  distraziono.  Nou  potcto  uvcrc 
riguardi  che  per  LKI. 

"Voi  dnnque  sapeto  tutto!" 

"Si,  quest'  invito  e  Htato  fatto  giiV  da  quatiro 
<viorni."  Questa  e  una  piccola  congluia  trainata  dal 
signor  Saint-Gilles  ed  approvata  da  mia  cugina.  N& 
1'  uno,  ne  1'  altra  vogliono  credere  che  ilvostro  aniore 
sia  sincero  e  forte." 

»'  E  voi  I lo  crcdctc  laic  1 " 

"lo?  "  avrei  dovuto  essere  indovina,  dappoichJ}  nh 
voi  mi  aveto  scelto  per  coniidcnte,  ne  vostra  madre  me 
no  ha  parlato.  Quello  ch'  io  so,  1'  ho  ppreso  dalla 
vostra  tristezza,  da  qualche  parola  raccolta  a  case,  ed 
ascoltando," 

"  Se  foste  stata  consiiltata  che  cosa  avreste  risposto  V' 

"Avrei  ricusato  di  far  parte  di  quest'  alleanza." 

"Perch^?" 

«*Porchfe  gli  alleati  non  debbono  essere  traditi." 

' '  Allora  voi  mi  compiangete  ? " 

"Se  non  sentissi  piet4  di  voi,  mi  vedreste  oggi  qui 
accanto  a  voir' 


1 

'1 


>:ji» 


,i'J«a---JiriU;^f.\r"^TiV,.ir.;--«8««i-#>,mi«»r,iM>;i»-j<aT-^^^^ 


100 


AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 


•'Kind  Adolo,  I  am  snfferin2:;  yea,  I  nm  unhappy." 

"And,  nevertheless,  you  love  and  are  loved?" 

*' Without  a  shadow  of  doubt." 

"What  else,  then,  do  you  want?  A  happiness 
which  only  depends  upon  youi-self !  Listen  to  me  : 
I  always  thought  that  women,  better  than  men,  know 
how  to  love,  because  when  they  feel  a  strong  passion, 
they  do  not  look  at  the  difficulties  and  are  ready  to 
defy  death,  while  you  men  do  not  know  how  to  bear 
a  moment  of  embarrassment  or  of  shame." 

"  You  are  right ;  I  am  feeble,  and  1  fear  to  bring 
affliction  to  my  mother." 

"Or,  perhaps,  to  repent  yourself  some  day?" 

"  Oh  !  never,  never  ! If  you  knew  her !" 

"  Speak  to  me,  then,  with  open  heart.  I  fear  that 
all  that  I  am  now  going  to  do  or  to  say  may  be 
wrong.  I  ought  to  remain  neutral.  But  a  friend 
will  be  allowed  to  ask  for  your  confidence,  when  an- 
other has  taken  upon  himself  the  right  of  torturing 
you  without  consulting  you.  Answer  me,  then.  Is 
she  beautiful  ? " 

"Without  her  I  cannot  live." 

"She  is  beautiful,  yes,  Avithout  doubt,  but  I  meant 
to  say  remarkably  beautiful " 

"More  so  than  yourself,  my  cousin;"  but  he  soon 
added,  "at  least  I  believe  so." 

"Are  you  sure  of  it?  and  do  you  not  deceive  met 
Has  bhe  spirit  .<" 


ri(IWBifljiWrillMtljiy«ii)!)i>rai^ 


:  unhappy." 
loved  i " 

.  happiness 
itcn  to  me : 
men,  know 
>ng  passion, 
ire  ready  to 
low  to  bear 


jar  to  brinff 

O 


day?" 


er  I" 

I  fear  that 
ay  may  be 
it  a  friend 
e,  when  an- 
f  torturing 
),  then.     Is 


ut  I  meant 
at  he  soon 
eceive  mei 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  lOt 

"Buona  Adele  I     lo  soffro,  si  sono  disgraziato." 

"Eppure  amate  e  siete  riamato  I " 

'« Senza  1'  ombra  di  un  dubbio." 

"Che  cosa  dimque  vi  manca?  Una  felicity  che 
dipende  solo  da  voi.  Ascoltatemi,  ho  sempre  crediito 
che  le  donne  sapessero  amare  meglio  degli  uomini,per- 
che  allorquando  esse  hanno  nel  cuore  una  profonda 
passione  non  conoscono  ostacoli  e  sanno  sfidare  la 
morte;  mentre  che  voi  altri  uomini  non  sapete  soffrire 
un  moment(.  di  vergogna  o  d'  imbarazzo." 

"  Avete  ragione,"  disse  Giulio,  "  sono  debole  e  temo 
di  affliggere  mia  madre."  ^ 

"Ovveropentirvi  un  giorno." 

"  Oh  !  mai  1  e  poi  mat  1 Se  la  conosceste  I .... " 

"Su  via  parlatemi  a  cuore  aperto.  Temo  bf.ne  che 
qnanto  dico  e  fo  in  questo  momento  sia  mal  fatto,  do- 
vrei  rimanere  neutrale.  Forse  h  lecito  ad  un'  arnica 
di  domandare  la  vostra  fiducia  allorquando  un  altro 
che  non  avete  consultato  si  e  assunto  il  diritto  di  tor- 
mentarvi.    Rispondetemi;  ^  essa  bella?" 

"Senza  di  lei  non  potro  vivere." 

"Essa  h  bella!  si,  senza  dubbio,  pero  intendo  dire, 
bellissima,  bellissima ! " 

"Pill  di  voi,  cugina,"  e  subito  aggiunse  "  almeno 

cosi  credo." 

"Ne  siete  sicuro  e  non  m'  ingannate.    Ha  essa  dello 

Bpirito?" 
"Moltissimo,  unito   alia    semplicit^,  quelle  spiri- 


rfe 


102  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

"Very  much  indeed  and,  joined  with  simplicity,  that 
spirit  which  comes  from  the  heart,  like  youra,  cousin." 

"Pray  do  not  use  me  as  a  comparison,"  answered 
Adele,  smiling,  •'  and  I  am  not  questioning  you  about 
her  only  in  order  to  hear  her  praises.  After  all,  you 
love  her,  and  this  is  the  main  point.  Are  you  sure 
that  she  also  loves  you,  and  that  she  never  loved 
another  ?    Is  she  viraious  'i  " 

"He  who  would  tiy  to  say  the  contrary,  must  prove 
his  word  or  I  should  have  his  life." 

"Oh,  friend!  if  your  heart  would  be  completely 
free  and  you  would  be  the  absolute  master  in  choosing 
a  wife,  could  you  dare  to  hope  to  have  in  her  united, 
talents,  spirit,  virtue  ?  and  because  you  have  been  so 
fortunate  as  to  find  such  a  woman  and  to  possess  such 
a  treasure,  you  spurn  it  1  And  what  for  ?  Julius, 
search  your  heart  Have  you  never  reproached  her 
with  the  love  you  have  inspired  in  her  ? " 

"  Can  you  judge  me  so  unjust  ?  No;  Fanny,  to  my 
eyes,  is  the  most  virtuous  woman  in  all  the  world." 

"Marry  her,  then,  and  do  not  ask  me  for  advice." 

"I  shall  take  advice  only  from  myself,  my  good 
cousin.  My  present  embarrassment  lies  in  findinw  a 
way  to  break  this  projected  marriage." 

"  It  is  your  own  fault  Why  have  you  not  spoken 
a  month  ago  ? " 

"I  am  well  decided  not  to  a^  lear  this  evening,  but 
how  to  avoid  a  scandal  2 " 


(licity,  that 
•s,  cousin." 
answered 
you  about 
;er  all,  you 
B  you  sure 
iver  loved 

nust  prove 

sompletely 
n  choosing 
aer  united, 
ve  been  so 
)ssess  such 
?  Julius, 
>ached  her 

iny,  to  my 
world." 
•r  advice." 
my  good 
I  finding  a 

lot  spoken 

ening,  but 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONI.MA.  108 

to  che  proviene  dal  cuore,  come  il  vostro,  cugina." 

"Non  voglio  scrvirle  di  paragone,"  rlspose  Adcle 
sorridendo,  "e  non  vi  parlo  di  lei,  perchfe  facciate  il 
mio  clogio.  In  somma  vol  V  amate,  ecco  il  punto 
principaie.  Siete  poi  sicuro  ch'  essa  vi  ami  e  che  non 
abbia  amato  alcun  altro  ?     E'  dessa  virtuosa? " 

"  Colui  che  volesse  sostenere  il  contrario  dovrebbe 
provarmelo  altrimenti  n'  esigerei  la  vita." 

"Oh,  amicol  se  il  vostro  cuore  fosse  completa- 
mente  libero,  e  se  foste  1'  arbitro  assoluto  di  scegliervi 
una  sposa  non  osereste  sperare  di  trovare  in  essa  riu- 
nite  labeM,  la  gioventu,  i  talenti,  lo  spirito  e  la  virtii; 
e  perche  siete  stato  cosi  fortunato  di  porre  la  mano 
sopra  una  simile  donna  c  di  possedere  questo  tesoro, 
voi  lo  sdegnate.  E  per  qual  motivo  ?  Giulio  scendete 
in  voi  medesimo.  Non  le  avete  mai  rimproverato 
r  amore  che  avete  saputo  inspirarle  ? " 

*'Potete  giudicarmi  cos\  ingiusto?  No,  agli  occhi 
miei  Fanny  h  la  donna  la  piii  virtuosa  del  mondo  in- 

tero." 

"Sposatela  dunque  e  non  mi  domandate  consiglio." 

"Prendero  consiglio  solo  da  me,  buona  cugina.     11 

mio  imbarazzo  in  questo  momento  consiste  nel  trovare 

un  mezzo  per  rompere  questa  progettata  unione." 

"Voi  stesso  ci  colpat«.     Perch^  non  parlare  un 

inesefa." 

"'Sono  deciso  di  non  comparire  questa  sera.  Come 
per5  evitare  uno  scandalo  ? " 


■J 


mm 


m^ 


i 


104  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

*'I  do  not  sec  any  way.  The  rupture  ought  to 
come  from  the  countess,  not  from  you.  Were  I  you, 
I  would  not  worry  myself  until  to-night.  Yes,  on 
my  word,  Wlio  knows  but  some  good  angel  will 
watch  over  you  ?  Often,  just  when  we  feel  very  un- 
happy, we  find  ourselves  near  to  happiness,  Hope  I 
these  moments  of  tranquillity  Avill  be  so  many  stolen 
from  future  grief,  and  perhaps  even  these  last  will 
not  come." 

Before  Julius,  who  shared  not  this  confidence,  could 
ask  her  what  cause  inspired  her  with  it,  the  drawing- 
room  door  opened  and  Mrs.  Valabert  came  in.  She 
had  a  serious  and  preoccupied  mien,  and  was  crump- 
ling in  her  hand  a  letter  which  had  arrived  in  her 
absence  and  which  had  been  given  her  by  the  porter 
on  her  return. 

"My  son,"  she  said,  in  a  voice  which  hardly  con- 
cealed her  emotion,  "you  are  free  and  master  of  your 
evening.  Lady  Septeuil  writes  me  that  she  is  not 
able  to  accept  my  invitation.  Send  a  servant  to  Mr. 
Saint-Gilles,  and,  if  he  is  at  home,  tell  him  to  call  as 
soon  as  possible,"  and  she  departed,  murmurino-  a 
few  words  that  her  son  was  not  able  to  understand. 

This  second  apparition,  so  difierent  from  the  first, 
amazed  Julius.     Glancing  at  his  cousin,  he  said : 

"  Adele,  what  were  you  saying  a  little  while  ago ; 
that  the  rupture  ought  to  come  from  Mrs.  de  Septeuil  ? 


"fH5"!S5SSR? 


'  ought  to 
''ere  I  you. 
Yes,  on 
angel  will 
A  very  un- 
Hope  ! 
lany  stolen 
e  last  will 

mce,  could 
8  drawing- 
!  in.  She 
'^as  crump- 
led in  her 
the  porter 

ardly  con- 
er  of  your 
she  is  not 
mt  to  Mr. 
t  to  call  as 
muring  a 
jrstaud. 
I  the  first, 
said: 
i^hile  ago ; 
Septeuil? 


UNA  LFTTERA  ANONUIA.  105 

*'Non  ci  vedo  alcun  rimedio  Bisognerebbe  che  la 
rottura  provenisse  non  da  voi  ma  dalla  contessa.  Nei 
vostri  panni  fino  a  questa  sera  non  vorrei  tonnentarmi. 
Oh  1  Per  Bacco  1  Chi  sa  che  qualche  buon'  nngelo 
non  vegli  su  voi !  Spesso  al  momento  in  cui  ci  crediamo 
piu  in£elici,ci  troviamo  invece  vicini  a  toccare  la  felicity. 
Sperate !  Questi  moment!  di  quiete  saranno  altrettanti 
strappati  al  venturo  dolorc,  e  forse  i  momenti  del  do- 
lore  ncppure  giungeranno," 

Prima  che  Giulio  il  quale  non  divldeva  affatto  questa 
fiducia,  potesse  domandare  ad  Adele  qual  motive 
gliela  inspirasse  la  porta  del  salone  si  apri,  e  la  signora 
Valabert  entro.  Essa  aveva  la  cera  seria  e  preoccu- 
pata  e  spiegazzava  nelle  mani  una  lettera  arrivala  nel 
tempo  della  sua  assenza  e  che  appunto  allora  le  era 
stata.  consegnata  dal  portinaio. 

"Figlio,"  disse  con  voce  che  a  stento  celava  la  sua 
emozione,  "  siete  libero  e  padrone  della  vostra  serata. 
La  signora  di  Septeuil  mi  scrive  di  non  potere  acce1> 
tai-e  il  mio  invito.  Mandate  un  servo  a  casa  di  Saint- 
Gilles,  e  se  ^  in  casa,  fatelo  pregare  di  venire  da  me," 
e  si  albontan6  mormorando  poche  parole  che  suo 
figlio-  non  pote  arrivare  a  comprendere. 

Questa  seconda  compai-sa  cosi  diflercnte  dalla  prima 
aveva  strabiliato  Giulio.     Fissando  in  viso  sua  cugina : 

"Adele  che  dicevate  poc'  anzi?  Sarebbe  d'  uopo 
che  la  rottura  veuisse  da  parte  della  signora  di  ,^ep- 


t^- 


u 


ff 


106 


AN  ANOMYMOUS  LETTER. 


il 


i 


I 


But  this  seems  a  true  rupture;  you,  perhaps,  were 
cognizant  of  it?" 

"I  had  hoped  for  it." 

"The  angel  who  was  watching  over  me  was  then 
yoiirsel''?" 

"  Hush  ! "  said  she,  "  be  silent  I " 

He  replied  in  a  low  voice  :  "But  how  happened  all 
this  ?  Please  explain  yourself,  that  I  may  be  ab^e  to 
thank  you. " 

"  What  I  have  done  is  of  little  importance.  I  will 
tell  you  about  it  later,  if  you  will  be  so  good  as  not 
to  reproach  me  with  having  guessed  what  you  had  not 
told  me.  Now  let  us  part — not  a  word  more,  not  a 
sign  nor  a  look  of  intelligence.  1  saw  you  so  un- 
happy, here  is  the  excuse  and  explanation  of  my  con- 
duct ;  to  morrow,  or  in  a  few  days,  you  will  entreat 
your  mother,  and  she,  perhaps,  will  be  moved  by  your 
prayer.  Do  not  waste  your  time  with  me,  go  to  her; 
go,  friend,  and  love  her  always  because  she  is  worthy 
of  you.     Good-bye." 

Mi-s.  Valabert's  pride  had  been  offended  by  the 
refusal  of  the  countess;  and  the  latter  was  too  proud 
to  go  back.  All  the  diplomacy  of  Mr.  Saint-Gilles 
failed  to  again  bring  forth  the  negotiations.  Mrs.  de 
Launay,  fearing  sooner  or  later  to  be  obliged  to  take 
sides  in  these  family  discussions,  went  into  the  country 
for  a  few  days,  to  the  residence  of  a  friend  of  Julius' 
mother. 


haps,  were 


3  was  then 


ippened  all 
be  ab'e  to 

ce.  I  will 
;()od  as  not 
oil  had  not 
lore,  not  a 
'^ou  so  un- 
3f  my  con- 
rill  entreat 
3d  by  your 
go  to  her; 
)  is  worthy 

led  by  the 
too  proud 
Jaint-Gilles 
.  Mrs.  de 
[ed  to  take 
the  country 
1  of  Juhus' 


UNA  LETFERA  ANONIMA.  107 

teuil,  ma  questo  sombra  una  vera  rottura.     Lo  sape- 
vate  torse  'i " 

"Losperava." 

"  L'  angelo  cbe  vegliava  su  me  eravate  dunque  voi  ?" 

"  Zitto,"  gli  disse,   "  tacete  I " 

Egli  riprese  a  voce  bassa  : 

"Ma  come  h  accaduto  tutto  cio?  Oh,  spiegatevi 
perch'  io  possa  ringraziarvene." 

'•  Cio  che  ho  fatto  e  cosa  di  poco  valore,  ve  lo  dir6 
pill  tardi,  se  non  mi  rimprovererete  di  avere  indovi- 
nato  un  dolore  ehe  non  mi  a\'evate  confidato.  Adesso 
separiamoci.  Non  una  parola  di  piii,  non  un  cenno, 
non  uno  sguardo  d'  intelligenza.  Vi  ho  veduto  tanto 
Infelice !  Ecco  la  scusa  della  mia  condotta,  domani 
fra  qualche  giorno  pregherete  vostra  madre  e  for- 
se  le  vostre  preghiere  la  commoveranno.  Non  per- 
dete  il  tempo  nieco,  andate  iresso  di  lei,  andate, 
amico,  ed  amatcla  senipi'c  dacche  e  degna  di  voi.  A 
rivedcrci.'" 

L'  orgoglio  della  signora  Valabert  era  stato  offeso 
dal  rifiuto  della  contessa  e  quest'  ultima  era  troppo  su- 
perba  per  ritornare  sul  fatto.  Tutta  la  diplomazia  del 
signor  Saint-Giiles  non  pote  riescire  a  riappicare  le 
trattative.  La  signora  de  La.may,  temendo  senza 
dubbio  di  vedersi  costretta  presto  o  tardi  di  prendere 
partito  in  queste  discnssioni  di  famiglia  ando  'i  passare 
alcuui  giorui  alia  villeggiatura  in  casa  di  uu'  aioica 
della  madre  di  Giuiio, 


.'.ii.aniin.lt,Mfe;yt;s.- 


M^ 


108 


AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 


Julius  was  not  able  immediately  to  obtain  the  con- 
sent he  asked  for.  Every  time  Mrs.  Valabert  was 
moved  by  her  son's  j)rayers,  Saint-Gilles,  who  had 
considered  as  his  own  business  the  rupture  of  this 
marriage,  reproached  her  with  her  feebleness.  Saint 
Gilles  had  not  been  able  to  put  in  execution  his 
first  scheme  of  addressing  himself  to  Fanny,  because 
Julius  was  continually  with  her.  Finally,  frightened 
at  .the  anxiety  and  agitation  of  her  sou,  Mrs.  Vala- 
bert yielded  on  condition  that  she  should  not  see  her 
daughter-in-law.  Julius,  at  about  twenty  leagues 
from  Paris,  owned  a  villa  which  was  comprised  in 
his  father's  estate.  The  interesting  condition  of  Fanny 
not  permitting  him  to  present  her  in  society,  he  had 
resolved  to  take  her  to  this  little  country  residence. 
In  order  to  announce  to  her  the  day  fixed  for  the  mar- 
riage and  make  known  to  her  his  last  arrangements, 
he  Avent  as  usual  to  the  house  in  Furstemberg  street. 

Occupied  with  his  thoughts  and  absent-minded,  he 
was  walking  rapidly.  Just  as  he  was  nearing  the  door 
of  Fanny's  house,  he  rushed  upon  a  young  man  com- 
ing from  it  While  ringing  the  bell,  his  heart  was 
throbbing.  He  reproached  himself  for  the  injurious 
suspicions  continually  torturing  him  in  spite  of  his 
love.  On  entering,  it  seemed  to  him  that  Marion  was 
confused  and  that  Fanny  blushed  when  he  narrated  his 
encounter,  but  he  ended  by  being  ashamed  of  his  jeal 
ous  suspicions,  and  siion  restored  by  Fanny's  tender 


',ma»iinissji<V: «  ■-■ 


II  the  con- 
ibert  was 
who  hnd 
'6  of  this 
s.  Saintr 
ution  his 
%  because 
rightened 
fra.  Vala- 
)t  see  her 
Y  leagues 
iprised  in 
of  Fanny 
y,  he  had 
residence, 
r  the  mar- 
igements, 
srg  street, 
inded,  he 
f  the  door 
man  corn- 
heart  was 
injurious 
ite  of  his 
arion  was 
rrated  his 
>f  his  jeal- 
Y's  tender 


UNA  f^ETTERA  ANOPTTM A. 


lOf) 


Qnosti  non  aveva  potuto  ottcnore  suhito  il  consenso 
che  (iouiamUiva.  Tutte  le  volte  chc  la  hignoni  Vala- 
bert  si  lasciava  intcnerire  dalle  pregbiere  dA  liglio, 
Saint-Gilles,  ch'  erasi  fatto  un  caso  di  coscionzu  dt^lla 
rottura  di  questo  niatrinionio  lo  riniproverava  la  sua 
debolezza.  Saint-Gilles  non  potcva  porro  in  csccu- 
zione  la  sua  priraitiva  idea  di  dirigci-si  a  Fanny  a  nio- 
tivo  che  Giulio  rinianova  ct)ntinuamente  con  lei.  Spa- 
ventata  in  ultimo  dalle  snianio  e  dall'  agitazionc  del 
figlio,  lasignora  Valal)ert  ccdt'ttc  a  condi/ione  di  non 
vodere  la  nuora.  Giulio  a  circa  venti  Icght;  da  Parigi 
possedeva  una  campagnu  che  gli  provenia  da)  la  fortuna 
del  padre.  La  posizione  interessante  di  Fanny  non 
perniottendogli  di  presentarla  in  societii.  aveva  deciso 
condurla  in  quclla  villa.  Per  annunziare  a  Fanny 
r  epoca  del  niatrinionio  e  comunicarle  lo  sue  ultime 
disposizioni  come  al  consueto  si  rec6  nella  via  Furstem- 
berg. 

Preoccupato  dei  suoi  peusieri  camminava  sollecito 
e  distratto.  Al  momento  in  cui  era  per  giungere  alia 
porta  della  casa  di  Fanny  si  urtA  con  un  giovine  che 
appunto  ne  usciva,  Tirando  il  carapanello  il  cuore 
gli  batteva  fortemcnte,  e  si  rimproverava  gl'  ingiusti 
sospetti  che  a  dispetto  del  suo  aniore  incessantemento 
lo  torturavano.  Nell'  entrare  gli  sembr6  chc  Marian- 
na  fosse  turbata  e  che  Fanny  arrossisse  allorche  ei 
raccontava  loro  il  suoincontro;  raa  fin\  col  vergognarsi 
di  quel  gelosisospetti,e  presto  riassicurato  da  tenere  ed 


Jl 


110  AN  ANONYMOUS  I.ETTRll. 

and  affectionate  looks,  he  forgot  all,  to  think  only  of 
the  near  future  which  promised  to  be  so  cahn  and 
happy.  The  villa  to  which  he  intended  to  take  his 
wife  had  not  been  inhabited  for  three  years.  It  was 
necessary  to  put  it  in  order  to  sojourn  in.  It  was 
agreed  that  Julius  should  go  alone  and  remain  absent 
from  Paris  for  eight  days,  the  time  needed  to  com- 
plete the  preparations.  From  the  moment  when  they 
had  begun  to  love  each  other,  this  was  their  lirst  sepa/- 
ration,  and  although  it  would  not  liisl  long,  the  parting 
was  as  painful  us  if  they  were  never  to  meet  again. 

On  his  return  to  Paris, Julius  Valabert  received  the 
anonymous  letter  copied  by  Ternisien,  the  address  of 
which,  as  stated  in  the  fii-st  chapter,  had  been  written 
by  a  difi'ei'eut  person. 


IV. 

THE  TRIAL. 

Seated  in  the  same  room  where  we  saw  her  before, 
Fanny  let  her  eyes  sadly  wander  from  the  window 
to  the  door,  listening  to  every  noise  and  showing  in 
her  features  fear  rather  than  hope.  Do  you  remem- 
ber with  what  joy  she  had  been  exhihu-ated  when 
Julius  br(»ught  her  the  announcement  of  his  re- 
solve i     Why,  instead,  do  we  find  her  so  sad  to-day' 


■  twAWjWhiJMkiitetS 


1 


nk  only  of 
calm  and 
o  tuko  his 
9.  It  was 
I.  It  was 
uin  absent 
d  to  com- 
vvlien  they 
first  separ 
le  parting 
t  again. 
Reived  the 
iddress  of 
jn  written 


Br  before, 
window 
owing  in 
a  remem- 
ed  when 
:  his  re- 
[J  to-day* 


UNA  LBTTERA  ANONTOA.  H  1 

affettiiose  ocohiate  dimentic6  tutto  per  prnsare  al  pros- 
simo  avvenire  che  promcttcva  di  esscre  cos\  calmo  e 
felice.  La  villa  nella  quale  doveva  condurre  sua  mo- 
glie  era  rimaj^ta  inabitata  gW  datre  anni:  abbisognava 
metterla  in  state  da  potervi  soggiornare.  F»i  conve- 
nuto  che  Giulio  partirebbe  solo  e  resterebbe  assente  da 
Parigi  per  otto  giomi  tempo  neeessario  per  conjple- 
tarev.'gli  ultimi  preparativi.  Dal  niouiento  in  cui  ave- 
vano  cominciato  ad  amai-si  questa  era  la  loro  prima 
8eparazione,ed  abbench^  di  breve  durata  esaa  fu  mestji 
e  dolorosa  quasi  ohe  non  avessero  dovuto  pid  rivo- 

derai.  ' 

Al  suo  ritomo  in  Parigi  Giulio  Valabert  ricevctte  la 
kttera  anonima  copiatsi  da  Ternisien  e  1'  indirizzo  della 
quhle  come  venne  detto  nel  primo  capitolo.  era  stato 
scritto  da  una  mano  differente. 


IV. 

L'  E8PERIENZA. 

Nella  stessa  camera  ove  altre  volte  la  vcdemmo, 
Fanny  assisa  iasciava  errare  tristamento  il  suo  sguardo 
dalla  finestra  alia  porta,  attenta  al  benche  minimo  ru- 
more  e  mostrando  suUa  sua  tisionomia  timore  anzichfe 
speranza.  Vi  ricordate  da  quale  gioia  foss'  ella  ine- 
briata  allorch^  Giulio  le  aveva  annunziato  la  presa 
rifloluzioneJ    Perch^  oggi   la  troviamo  invece  cosl 


A 


112  AN  ANONYMOUS  LEITKR. 

Ik'causu  tho  noaror  tlio  time  appointid  for  hor  nup- 
iinls  approiiilie^,  Uu;  more  she  feels  her  heart  op. 
pressed  by  u  fatal  present iincnt.  Eight  days  had 
already  passed  since  Julius'  departure,  and  'his  ab- 
sence, the  first  she  experieneed,  had  left  her  alone 
with  the  fears  of  her  lu-art  without  defense,  and  at  the 
same  time  had  exposed  her  to  some  intrigues  which 
had  come  to  poison  her  solitude. 

The  day  following  the  departure  of  Julius,  a  gen- 
tleman whom  she  remembered  to  have  seen  previously 
at  the  house  (.f  her  young  pupil,  Miss  Saint-Gilles, 
had  called  on  her  and  without  preamble  or  formality 
had  spoken  to  her  of  the  schemes  of  Julius'  family,  of 
the  brilliant  hopes  destroyed  by  his  love  for  her,  of 
the  grief  that  every  one  had  felt  and  tho  pain  with 
which  they  had  consented  to  this  union,  and  finally  he 
mentioned  a  last  hope  placed  in  Fanny's  delicacy,  that 
she  might  pei-suado  Julius  to  come  himself  to  consent 
to  what  was  wished  from  him.     Saint-Gilles  did  not 
forget  to  adorn  his  speech  with  flattering  words  and 
praises  :  Fanny  to  be  esteemed  by  everybody;  no  one 
would  be  surprised  to  hear  that  she,  herself,  learning 
of  tJie  existing  difficulties,   had  sacrificed  her  own 
love  to  the  future  happiness  of  Julius;  that  all  knew 
her  to  be  so  unselfish  as  not  to  hesitate  before  such  a 
sacrifice.     They  knew  also  that  she  was  so  sincere  in 
her  love  that  she  would  prefer  the  interests  of  Julius 


•WBIMBWSBIai^sr:' 


ler  nup- 
jait  oji. 
tiys  had 
'his  ab- 
T  alone 
(1  at  the 
6  which 

,  a  gen- 
iviously 
t-Gilles, 
rmality 
iiily,  of 
hor,  of 
in  with 
lally  he 
3y,  that 
Jonsent 
iid  not 
(Is  and 
no  one 
laming 
ir  own 
I  knew 
such  a 
3ere  in 
Julius 


Wli'i'Hl^iSilftS' 


UNA  r-RTTKRA  ANOKtMA.  113 

afflittn?  Poroho,  quanto  nmpgiomu'nto  vedcva  appios- 
Hiniarsi  l'  epoca  del  8Uo  niutrinionio,  tanto  piu  Hciitiva 
11  8U()  cuore  opprcnso  da  un  fatal((  presentinicnto. 
Erano  giil  scorsi  gli  otto  giorni  dacchi)  Giulio  era  i)ar- 
tito  e  quest'  asscn/.a  la  primada  lei  soflcrta  1'  avova 
gettata  sola  senza  difcsa  nello  ticpidazioni  del  suo 
cuore  c  .contemporaneanionto  1'  aveva  esposta  a  taluni 
intrighi  ch'  erano  venuti  ad  avvclenare  la  suasolitudino. 
L'  indomani  della  partenza  di  Giulio  un  gentiluomo 
ch'  essa  sovvenivasi  di  aver  veduto  altra  volta  nel  sa- 
lone  doi  genitori  dclla  sua  giovine  scolare  Saint-Gilles, 
si  era  presentato  a  lei  e  senza  preaniboli,  ne  cerinionie 
le  aveva  parlato  del  progetti  della  famiglia  di  Giulio, 
delle  brillanti  speranze  che  il  suo  aniore  per  loi  aveva 
distrutto,  dell'  afflizione  che  se  ne  risentiva,  del  dolore 
col  quale  si  era  dato  il  consenso  alia  prOpettata  unione 
e  finalmente  di  un'  ultima  speran/a  riposta  nella  doli- 
catezza  di  Fanny,  perche  pcrsuadesse  Giulio  a  rien- 
trare  in  sfe  ed  acconsentire  a  quanto  da  lui  si  desido- 
rava.  Saint-Gilles  non  dimentic6  di  adornare  questo 
discorso  con  parole  lusinghiere  ed  elogi :  Fanny  essere 
tenuta  da  tutti  in  grande  stima,  ncssuno  si  sorprende- 
rebbe  nel  vedere  com'  ella  niedesima  istrutta  delle  esi- 
stenti  difficoltA.  averse  sjiputo  sagrifioare  la  sua  passione 
air  av venire  della  feliciti  di  Giulio;  conoscersi  egual- 
mente  essere  ella  cosl  disinteressata  da  non  esiiare 
in  questo  sacrificio,  ed  essere  cosl  sincera  nel  suo 
amore  da  far  precedere  gl'  interessi  di  Giulio  ai  pro- 


s' 


m 


'**,/» . 


-J>r'tei'-|iiVii;.-i 


114  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETl'EB. 

to  her  own.  All  these  things  had  been  spoken  cau- 
tiously but  with  a  tone  in  which  one  could  easily  per- 
ceive the  skepticism  of  a  worldly  man,  read}'  to  deny 
every  kind  of  true  and  sublime  affection.  There  still 
I'emained  the  last  persuasive,  that  of  pecuniary  com- 
pensation in  exchange  for  so  many  destroyed  hopes. 
Although  Saint-Gilles  had  relied  very  much  upon  the 
strength  of  this  argument,  he  dare  not  speak  of  it. 
Fanny's  demeanor  had  made  such  an  impression  as 
to  prevont  him  from  uttering  the  words,  "pecuniary 
compemation.^'  Saint-Gilles  took  leave  without  re- 
cei\ina:  a  positive  answer,  but  obtained  from  her  a 
promise  to  let  him  know  her  decision. 

The  following  day,  after  a  night  of  wakefulness 
and  fever,  she  sent  him  a  note  containing  these  sim- 
ple words  :  "  Address  yourself  to  Juliusy  Thus  the 
negotiations  were  sent  again  to  the  same  field  on  which 
he  had  always  been  beaten.  These  attempts,  this  ap- 
peal to  her  generosity  and  this  exaggerated  picture  of 
Mrs.  Valabert's  grief  destroyed  Fanny's  confidence  by 
showing  the  present  full  of  struggles  and  dangers, 
the  future  dark  and  uncertain.  For  the  first  time  she 
paused  to  ponder  on  the  intrigues  and  plots  of  every 
kind  which  a  powerful  and  ambitious  family  might 
organize  against  her.  She  had  been  unable  to  give 
a  very  clear  answer  to  Mr.  Saint-Gilles,  because  she 


~iMii^ 


ipoken  can- 
easily  per- 
,dy  to  deny 
There  still 
iniary  com- 
yed  hopes, 
h  upon  the 
peak  of  it. 
pression  as 
^'pecuniary 
vjthout  re- 
rom  her  a 

i^akefulness 

these  sim- 

Thns  the 

d  on  which 

ts,  this  ap- 

picture  of 

ifidence  by 

i  dangers, 

st  time  she 

s  of  every 

nily  might 

»le  to  give 

lecause  she 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


11« 


prii.     Tntto  qxiesto  era  detto  con  precauzione,  ma  con 
\m  fare  in  cui  scorgevasi  lo    scctticismo  dell'  uomo 
di  mondo  pronto  a  negare   qualunqne  siasi  affetto 
vero   e  sublime.      Rimaneva  un  ultimo    argomento, 
quello,  cioe,  del  risarcimento  pecuniario   in   cambio 
di  tante  deluse   spevuuzo.     Quantunque  da  quest'  ar- 
gomento   egli    si    fosse    ripromesso    un    gran    suc- 
cesso,  pure  ei  non  oso  presentarlo.     II   contegno   di 
Fanny  aveva  fatto  su  lui  una  cosi  grande  impressione 
da  impedire  che  quosta  parola,  risarcimmto  jpeGunia- 
rio  escisse  dalla  sua  bocca.     SaintGilles  si  congedO) 
senz'  avere  ricevuto  definitivari9posta,limitandosi  solo 
a  pregarla  di  volergli  fare  conoscere  la  sua  dccisione. 
L'  indomani  dopo  una  notte  di  veglia  e  di  febbre, 
Fanny  sped\  a  SaintGilles  un  laconico  biglietto  nel 
quale  trovavansi  queste  semplici  parole.     Dlrigetevi 
a  Giiilio.     Di  tal  fatta  il  negoziatore  veniva  rinviato 
sul  terreno  sul  quale  era  giil  stato  constantemente 
battuto.     Questi  tentativi,  quest'  appello  alia  sua  gene- 
rosity, questo   quadro  un  po'   esagerato  del    diapia- 
cere  della  signora  Valabert,  avevano  distrutto  la  sicu- 
rezza  di  Fanny,  mostrandole  il  presente  pieno  di  peri- 
pezie  e  lotte,  e  1'  avvenire  incoi'to  ed  oscuro.     Per  la 
prima  volta  si  fermo  a  riflettere  sugl'  intrighi  e  sulle 
macchinazioni  di  ogni  specie  che  una  famiglia  potente 
ed  ambiziosa  poteva  organizzai'o  contro  di  lei.     Essa 
non  aveva  potuto  dare  una  risposta  chiara  al  signer 
Saint^Gilles,   giacchfe  non  aveva  osato  confessare  a 


*w 


116  AN  ANONTMOUS  LETTER. 

dnrc  not  reveal  to  this  railcr  tho  sacred  motive  which 
made  it  a  duty  for  her  to  resist  his  insinuations. 

"If,    instead  of  this  man,"   she  said  to  herself, 
"  Julius'  mother,  with  eyes  full  of  teai-s,  had  come 
in  person  to  me,  I  would  have  thrown  myself  at  her 
feet  and  spoken  thus  :  '  Pity,  and  do  not  despise  me? 
If  it  were  only  a  question  of  my  happiness,  I  would 
sacrifice  it  without  hesitation;    if   I   had  only  to 
renounce  Julius,  although  I  love  him  with  all  the 
strength  of  my  soul,  I  would  depart,  I  would  hide 
myself,  and  neither  you  nor  he  nor  any  living  person 
would  hear  of  me  again.     Perhaps,  finally,  he  would 
be  able  to  forget  me  and  might  some  day  be  happy, 
and  you,  enjoying  his  happiness,  would  think  of  me 
absent,  and  in  your  heart  thank  me,  and  this  thought 
will  bring  only  consolation.     But,  alas  !  if  I  should 
act  in  such  a  manner,  another  voice  would  rise  to  ac- 
cuse me,  a  being  dear  to  me,  whom  I  must  love  as  you, 
madam,  love  your  son,  would  ask  of  me  an  account 
of  a  sacrifice  which  would  deprive  him  of  a  name, 
of  family,  of  a  future,  and  you,  yourself,  who  are  so 
good,  would  you  advise  me  to  become  a  bad  mother  ? ' " 
Carried  away  by  her  grief  for  an  instant,  she  thought 
of  going  to  Mrs.  Valabert,  to  declare  all  to  her  and 
place  hei-self  under  her  protection,  but  was  prevented 
by  shame.     If  she  had  been  acquainted  with  Mrs.  de 


•VMM 


mi'm 


'!.M"','^w"ii-;i; 


/SlS^i^iiii..-^fi^-  f-^ifijliifi 


ve  which 
)ns. 

herself, 
ad  come 
(If  at  her 
spise  mer 

I  would 

only  to 
1  all  the 
uld  hide 
g  person 
le  would 
e  happy, 
ik  of  me 

thought 
I  should 
ise  to  ac- 
e  as  you, 

account 
a  name, 
3  are  so 
other?'" 
thought 
her  and 
revented 
Mrs.  de 


ONA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  H  • 

questo  beffardo  il  motivo  segreto  che  le  faceva  un  da 
verc  di  resistere  alle  sue  insinuazioni. 

"Se  invece  di  quest' uomo,"  diceva  essa,  "lama- 
dre  di  Giulio  versando  lagrime  amare  fosse  venuta  da 
me,  mi  sarei  gettata  ai  suoi  piedi  e  le  avrei  detto:  Ab- 
biate  piet^  di  me  e  non  mi  disprezzate;  se  si  trattasse 
solamente  della  mia  feUcit^  senz'  esitare  la  sagrifiche- 
rei,se  dovessi  solo  rinunziare  aGiulio,ebbene,  quantun- 
que  io  lo  ami  con  tutta  la  forza  doll'  anima  mia,  fuggi- 
vei;  ini  nasconderei,  e  n^  voi,  ne  egli,  n^  anima  viva 
udrebbe  piu  parlare  di  me.     Fovs'  egli  giungerebbe  a 
dime nticarmi  ed  un  giomo  sarebbe  felice  e  voi  goden- 
do  della  sua  felicity  pensereste  a  me  assente,  e  nel  vos- 
tro  cuore  mi  ringi-aziereste,  e  quest'  idea  f  ormerebbe 
la  mia  consolazione.     Ma,  ahimfe  1  ove  agissi  in  tal 
modo  un'  altra  voce  si  levcrebbe  ad  accusarmi.     Un 
ente  ben  caro  e  ch'  io  debbo  amare  come  voi,  signora 
amate  vostro  figlio,  mi  domanderebbe  conto  di  questo 
sacrificio  che  lo  priverebbe  di  un  nome;  di  una  fami- 
glia  di  un  avvenirc,  e  voi  medesima,  voi  che  siete  cosi 
buona  mi  consigliereste  voi  di  diventare  una  cattiva 

madre?" 

Esaltata  dal  dolorele  venne  in  mente  di  recarsi  dalla 
signora  Valabert,  di  confessarle  il  tutto  e  di  mettersi 
sotto  la  sua  protezione,  ma  fu  trattenuta  dalla  ver- 
gogna.  Se  avesse  conosciuto  la  signora  de  Launay, 
queir  amica  s\  sincera  e  si  indulgent©  deUa  quale  Giu- 
Uo  le  aveva  raccontato  il  generoso  modo  di  procedere, 


I 


iii 


'^'ilflfr'n^iittlStr 


^■^®  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

Launay,  that  friend  so  sincere  and  indulgent,  whose 
generous  act  Julius  had  narrated  to  her,  she  would 
have  confided  in  her  and  thought  hereelf  safe.  Tim- 
idity detained  her,  • 

Thus  for  eight  mortal  days,  alone,  a  prey  to  her 
fears,  she  saw  no  other  help  than  Julius,  who  was  ab- 
sent, and  whose  weakness  of  character  she  dreaded 
How  many  varied  tortures  afflicted  her  mind,  always 
disposed  to  exaggerate  evil  I     The  humiliation  she  ex- 
pected and  the  repentance  that  Julius  would  perhaps 
experience  when  his  passion  had  abated,  would  leave 
him  under  the  ascendancy  of  his  mother.     Perhaps 
also,  that  jealousy  which  he  was  unable  to  control 
would  someday  bring  him  to  suspect  her  who  had 
not  known  how  to  resist  his  seductions  because,  stran-e 
as  It  IS,  ladies  are  always  punished  for  their  sins  by 
the  same  persons  for  whose  sake  they  sin,  and  who 
gather  in  the  fruit  of  their  crime. 

In  this  manner,  after  the  infatuation  of  her  passion 
Fanny  was  experiencing  the  first  trial  of  life  and  in' 
stead  of  peace  and  happiness  in  her  soul, 'she  met 
doubts  and  fears  at  every  step. 

As  a  last  refuge,  there  remained  to  her  the  remem 
brance  and  thought  of  Julius.  She  plunged  so  deeply 
mto  It  as  to  forget  everything  else.  Had  she  been 
possessed  of  cooler  blood,  or,  better,  if  she  had  had  a 
more  complete  knowledge  of  evil  and  of  the  advantage 
that  slander  takes  of  every  clrcum.^tance  even  the  most 


h: 


iL^ 


fa-'ff iiJi^,jt(|^  - 


nt,  whose 
ihe  would 
fe.    Tim- 

y  to  her 
o  was  ab- 
dreaded. 
1,  always 
n  she  ex- 

perhaps 
lid  leave 
Perhaps, 
>  control 
(vho  had 
,  strange 

sins  by 
md  who 

passion, 
and,  in- 
3he  met 

remera- 
» deeply 
le  been 
d  had  a 
i^antage 
le  uiost 


^^,:^x-,-,^'ddi:i^--PM'f^^^^^^^^'^^''''''^^'^^ 


USX  LBTTERA  ANONIMA.  119 

ella  si  sarebbe  confidata  a  lei,  e  si  earebbe  creduta 
salva.     I  a  timidity  la  trattenne. 

In  tal  n^odo  per  lo  spazio  di  otto  mortal!  giorni, 
sola,  abbandonata  ai  suoi  timori,  cisa  non  vedeva  altro 
appoggio  se  non  Giulio,  il  quale  trovavasi  lontano  da 
lei,  e  del  quale  ella  paventava  la  debolezza  di  carattere. 
Quante  diverse  altre  torture  agitavano  la  sua  anima  pro- 
pensa  ad  esagerarsi  il  male !  L'  umiliazione  che  I'aspel^ 
tava^ul  pentimento  che  foi-se  Giulio  potrebbe  risentire 
allorch^  estinta  la  sua  passione  si  troverebbe  sotto 
r  ascendente  della  madre?    Fore'  anche  quella  diffi- 
dente  gelosia  oh'  ei  non  aveva  la  forza  di  domare  lo 
condurrebbe  un  giorno  a  sospettare  di  lei  che  non  aveva 
saputo  resistere  alia  sue  seduzioni;  imperocchfe  cosa 
strana,  le  donne  sono  quasi  sempre  punite  delle  loro 
colpe  dalla  persona  medosima  in  favore  della  quale 
peccarono  e  che  raccolse  il  frutto  del  loro  peccato. 

,Ecco  in  qual  modo  dopo  1'  ebbrezza  della  passione, 
Fanny  faceva  la  prima  esperienza  della  vita  ed  invece 
della  felicity  e  tranquillity  d'  animo  ad  ogni  passo 
s'  imbatteva  in  dubbi  e  timori. 

Quale  unico  rif ugio  le  rimaneva  il  ricordo  ed  il  pen- 
siero  di  Giulio,  ed  essa  talmeiite  s'  immerse  in  questo 
da  non  sapere  pensare  ad  altro.  Se  avesse  possednto 
una  maggiore  dose  di  sangue  f  reddo,  o  meglio  se  mag- 
giormente  avesse  conosciuto  il  male,  ed  avesse  pensato 
al  danno  ed  al  partito  cho  la  calunnia  sa  trarre  dalle 
minime   circostanze    auohe    le   piii  equivoche,  essa 


mms 


?9!pp- 


120  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEB. 

equivocal,  8he  would  have  tried  by  anticipation  to 
explain  the  unhappy  circumstances  which  in  case  of 
need  could  have  borne  testimony  against  her  reputa- 
tion. She  would  have  felt  the  necessity  of  giving  an 
account,  and  of  explaining  another  mysterious  visit 
she  had  received  after  that  of  Saint-Gilles.  Her  love 
made  her  forget  all  thU,  her  only  thought  being  of 
her  Julius. 

At  last,  as  we  have  said,  the  eight  days  of  Julius' 
absence  were  past.  She  was  waiting  for  him,  when 
she  was  aroused  by  a  sharp  pull  at  the  door-bell. 

•'Here  he  comes  1"  she  cried,  and  ran  to  the  door. 

Julius  entered. 

Fanny's  joy  was  of  short  duration ;  Julius  seemed 
not  the  same  man.  His  face  was  fearfully  pale  his 
eyes  glaring,  his  lips  trembling.  She  tried  to  speak 
but  courage  failed,  and  in  silence  ihe  stood  gazing  at 
him.  Without  uttering  a  single  word,  he  shut  the 
door  and  hurriedly  crossed  the  room.  Fanny  fol- 
lowed him. 

Julius  cast  at  her  a  dreadful  glance,  which  seemed 
to  penetrate  her  heart.  One  of  his  hands,  placed  un- 
der  his  coat,  was  agitated  by  a  convulsive  movement. 
With  the  other  he  seized  Fanny  by  the  arm,  forcing 
her  to  remain  at  his  side. 

'What  ails  you?    Julius,  you  frighten  me."     . 


4(1 


ipation  to 
in  case  of 
ler  reputa- 
giving  an 
rious  visit 
Her  love 
;  being  of 

of  Julius' 
im,  wlien 
■bell, 
the  door. 

IS  seemed 
pale,  his 
to  speak, 
gazing  at 
shut  the 
inny  fol- 

li  seemed 

aced  un- 

ivement. 

forcing 


UNA  LETTERA  ANOKIMA.  1 21 

avrebbe  anticipatainente  cercato  di  salvare  le  infelici 
apparenze  che  in  caso  di  bisogno  potevano  testimo- 
niare  contro  di  lei;  avrebbe  provatala  necesiiti  di  dar 
conto  e  di  spiegare  un'  altra  visita  misteriosa  che  aveva 
ricevuto  dopo  quella  di  Saint-Gilles.  II  suo  amore  le 
f aceva  dimcnticare  tutto  il  rcsto  e  solo  si  occupava  del 
suo  Giulio. 

Finalmente,  come  giA,  dicemmo,  gli  otto  giorni 
dell'  asscnza  di  Giuiio  erano  trascorsi.  Essa  lo  aspet- 
tava.     Una  violenta  tii-ata  di  cauipanello  la  scosse. 

"Eccolo!"  ella  grido  e  si  prcoipit6  verso  la  porta. 

Giulio  entro. 

La  gioia  di  Fanny  fu  di  brove  durata.  Giulio  non 
sembrava  piii  lo  stosso.  II  suo  viso  era  orribilmente 
pallido,  i  suoi  occhi  larapcggiavano,  le  sue  labbra  tre- 
mavano.  Essa  tent6  di  parlare,  non  n'  ebbe  la  forza  e 
silenziosa  si  ribtctta  a  contemplarlo.  Senza  pronun- 
ziare  un  dctto,  Giulio  chiuse  la  porta  e  rapidamente 
traverse  la  stanza.     Fanny  gli  tenne  dietro. 

Giulio  le  gett6  ima  terribile  occhiata  che  sembrava 
volesse  penetrare  nel  profondo  del  suo  cuore.  Una 
delle  sue  mani  passata  sotto  1'  abito  era  agitata  da  un 
convulso  movimento ;  coll'  alti'a  mano  egli  afferro 
Fanny  pel  braccio  contringendola  a  rimanere  accanto 
a  lui. 

Quell'  occhiata  ma  sopratutto  quel  silenzio  era  spa- 
ventoso. 

' '  Mio  Dio,  che  avete  mai  i    Giulio  voi  mi  fate  paura. " 


'>-*gs- 


122  AN  ANONITMOUS  LBITEB. 

"Sit  down,"  he  answered  with  a  gloomy  and 
threatening  voice. 

She  sat  down  mechanically,  subdued  by  that  com- 
mand and  the  gesture  by  which  it  was  accompanied. 

Julius  had  made  an  unspeakable  effort  to  overcome 
the  emotion  which  oppressed  him.  He  waa  no  longer 
able  to  restrain  himself.  For  a  few  moments  he  was 
silent,  as  if  collecting  himself  to  enjoy  at  his  leisure 
the  continually  increasing  agitation  of  the  unfortunate 
Fanny.  Then,  without  even  ceasing  to  stare  at  her, 
and  as  if  he  wished  to  test  her,  he  coldly  and  briefly 
said : 

"  So,  then,  you  have  deceived  me  I " 

The  poor  girl,  dumb  with  amazement,  threw  herself 
back.  In  her  turn  she  felt  the  words  dying  on  her 
lips,  and  her  voice  strangled  in  her  throat. 

Julius,  who  yet  held  her  by  the  hand,  and  who  saw 
her  cast  down  by  such  an  unexpected  accusation, 
shook  her  fiercely,  and  with  a  tone  full  of  rage,  con- 
tinued :  "  Answer  1  answer  me  ! " 

Vainly  he  endeavored  to  awaken  her  out  of  that 
dreadful  dream.  She  answered  no  mure,  inasmuch  as 
the  thought  of  being  adjudged  guilty  had  never  oc- 
curred to  her  mind.  All  her  preceding  fears  were 
justified;  the  intrigues,  the  plots  she  dreaded  came  to 
attack  her.  Fearful  suspicion  !  Julius,  perhaps,  loved 
her  no  more;  Julius,  conquered  by  the  prayei-s  of  his 
family  and  in  compact  with  them,  was  now  searching 


pvmm 


loomy  and 

f  thnt  com- 
mpanied. 
o  overcome 
IS  no  lunger 
ents  he  was 
his  leisure 
unfortunate 
itare  at  her, 
and  briefly 


irew  herself 
'^ing  on  her 

id  who  saw 
accusation, 
f  rage,  con- 
out  of  that 
inasmuch  as 
d  never  oc- 
fears  were 
ied  came  to 
I'haps,  loved 
ttjei-s  of  his 
'.v  searching 


UNA  liETTERA  ANONIMA. 


123 


**Sedetevi,"  egli  rispose  con  voce  cupa  e  niinac- 
olosa." 

Essa  sedette  macchinalnicnte  8o<rfri(>p:at«  da  qucUa 
voce  e  dal  gesto  col  quale  era  stata  acc()nii)agnata. 

Giulio  aveva  fatto  uno  sforzo  incrcdibilo  per  donii- 
nare  1'  emozione  che  1'  opprimeva.  Non  potcva  piu 
coutenersi.  Rimase  silcn/ioso  ancora  per  qualche  mo- 
mento,  quasi  si  raccogliesse  per  godcre  a  suo  bell'  agio 
deir  ognora  crescente  agitaziono  dell'  infelice  Fanny. 
In  sognito  senza  pur  cessare  di  fissarla  e  quasi  volesse 
provarla,  fi'cddamente  e  concisamente  lo  disse  : 

"Dunque,  mi  aveto  ingannato  1 " 

La  povera  giovine,  muta  dallo  stupore,  rovesciossi 
indietro.  A  suo  turno  ella  sent!  la  parola  morirsi  suUe 
labbra,  e  la  voce  arrestiirsi  nello  fauci. 

Giulio  checontinuavaasoiTcggerlacolIamano  eche 
la  vedeva  atterrata  da  questa  imprevveduta  accusa,  la 
Bcosse  fortemente  o  con  accento  pieno  di  rabbia,  con- 
tinu6 : 

"  Rispondete,  ma  rispondete  dunque." 

Invano  egli  si  sforzava  di  destarla  da  quell'  orribile 
sogno,  essa  piti  non  rispondeva,  dal  perch^  alia  sua 
imaginazione  mai  si  era  presentato  il  pensiero  di  po- 
tere  essere  sospettata  colpevole.  Tutti  1  suoi  prece- 
denti  timori  erano  giustificati;  gl'  intrighi,  lemanovre 
da  lei  paventate  venivano  ad  attaccarla.  Onibile  so- 
Bpetto !  Giulio  forse  piii  non  1'  amava;  Giulio  vinto 
dallti  preghiere  della  famiglia,  d'  accordo  colla  stessa 


1 


ISA  AN  ANONYMOUS  LBTTER. 

for  a  pretext  for  rupture.  A  fearful  abyss  had  opened 
at  her  feet,  and  she  had  fallen  into  it.  Julius,  afraid 
of  such  an  eaay  triumph,  repressing  himself,  thus 
continued : 

"I  shiill  try  to  be  calm.  Listen  to  me.  This  in 
terview,  porhnps,  will  be  the  last  one  betwi^en  us  ;  if 
you  cannot  justify  youi-sclf,  it  will  be  an  everlasting 
rupture,  but  I  shall  not  judge  without  having  first 
hoard  you.  If  you  have  deceived  me,  you  were  very 
guilty,  because  I  had  perfect  confidence  in  you ;  I 
would  have  bi-i^n  ashamed  of  watching  your  conduct. 
I  loved  you  and  to  you  I  would  have  sacrificed  all, 

— friends,  fortune,  mother " 

•  .Fanny  made  a  movement.  Finally  she  undei-stood 
that  she  was  accused  of  infamy  and  falseness.  Blushes 
suflfused  her  face  and  her  cheeks,  and  when  Julius' 
eyes  again  asked  her  for  an  answer,  she  this  time  pur- 
posely remained  silent,  because  she  felt  wounded  in 
her  virtue. 

Another  pause  followed,  and  then  Julius  began  : 

"Speak  to  me  frankly,  Fanny.     Am  1  the  only 

person  who  has  put  his  foot  in  this  apartment  ? 

Think  well.: Have  you  received  any  other  V 

"Ah!  if  that  is  the  question,"  she  replied,  "yes  ; 
another  person  has  been  here  whom  you  know,  one 
of  your  friends,  Mr.  Saint-Gilles." 

"  Saint-Gilles  ! "  said  Julius,  completely  astonished. 

"By  his  remarks  he  prepared  me  for  this  altercation." 


HH 


niiiinisiipaiiiii 


ia^asusijiiSfcaSsixuisa, 


i^'^i^^iSi^Ktm 


ad  opened 
Ins,  afraid 
self,   thus 

This  in 
een  us ;  if 
iverlasting 
ving  first 
wore  very 
in  you ;  I 
V  conduct, 
ritiued  all, 

indei'stood 
.  Blushes 
len  Julius' 
( time  pur- 
ounded  in 

began  : 
L  the  only 
nent  ? 

rV 

ed,  "yes; 
know,  one 

istonished. 
terctttion." 


S^^^^SMk- 


UNA  LKTTERA  ANONIMA.  125 

cercava  adopso  un  pretesto  di  rotturn,  Un  nhisso 
spaventcvole  si  era  apcrto  sotto  i  Huoi  i)io(li  edos-sii  vi 
si  era  preoipitatii.  Giuiio  shigottito  dii  qucsto  facile 
trionfo,  raffronandosi  ri  prose  : 

"  Mi  provcro  a  riniancrc  calmo.  Uditi-nii.  Quosto 
colloquio  sanV  foi-so  1'  ultimo;  se  non  potete  giustHi- 
carvi  san\  ima  roltin-a  ctorna,  pero  non  vi  giudichero 
scnza  pria  avervi  ascoltato.  Se  mi  avete  ingannato, 
siete  colpevolissima;  dappoiche  in  voi  io  avcva  inticra 
tiducia,  avrci  arroswito  »li  sorvcgliare  le  vostre  azioni, 
vi  amava  ed  avrci  per  voi  sagriticato  tutto,  amici,  for- 
tuna,  madro, . . . . " 

Fanny  fcce  un  movimcnto.  Alfine  capiva  ch'cssa  era 
accusata  di  mcnzogna,  d'  infamia.  II  suo  viso  e  le  sue 
guancie  si  soffusscro  di  rossore,  ed  allorche  gli  occhi 
di  Giuiio  di  bel  novo  le  domandarono  una  risposta,vo- 
lontariamente  qucsta  volta  cUa  rinuuio  silcnziosa  pcr- 
che  scntivasi  fcritji  nella  sua  virtii. 

Ne  segu\  una  nviova  pausa  ed  indi  Giuiio  continue) : 

"Parlatemi  schicttamente,  Fanny,  sono  io  il  solo 

che  abbia  posto  i  piedi  in  quest'  appartamento  i 

Riflettete  bene avete  ricevuto  altri  ? " 

"Ah,  so  si  trattu  solo  di  cio,''  essa  rispose.  "Si, 
qui  h  ben  venuto  una  poreona  (  iC  voi  conoscete,  un 
vostro  amico,  il  signor  Saint-Gilles." 

"Saint-Gilles  V  ripresc  G  iullo  sommamente  sorpreso. 

"  Coi  suoi  discorsi  mi  aveva  preparato  alia  barrulia 
che  adesso  mi  fate." 


■ i  I'lJ 


198  AN  ANON  YMOU8  LETTEB. 

"Hef  He  must  explain  to  mo  his  way  of  acting. 
It  is  not  of  liim  that  I  am  speaking ;  you  do  not  sjjeuk 
to  me  of  anotlier  young  man  wliose  mysterious  call 
has  been  revealed  to  me." 

"Ah  I  "  answered  Fanny,  "what  has  been  reported 
to  you  't " 

"This  is  what  I  have  heard,"  cried  Julius,  rumpling 
u  paper  which  he  took  from  his  breast:  "It  has  been 
narrated  to  me  that  diu'ing  my  absence,  the  day  be- 
fore yesterday  in  the  evening,  a  young  man  wrapped 
in  a  cloak  had  entered  your  house,  secretly  intro- 
duced by  Marion  ;  that  he  had  left  two  hours  after; 
that  this  young  gentleman  had  called  often,  thougli 
you  had  never  spoken  to  me  of  it;  lastly,  that  lie  had 
known  you  before  myself ;  that  he  loved  you,  and  that 
you  were  to  marry  him.  Is  all  this  true  ?  Is  it  ne- 
cessary that  I  should  also  tell  you  his  name  ? " 

"It  is- needless,"  replied  Fanny  with  dignity;  "who 
gave  you  these  paiticulars  ? " 

"  This  letter,"  said  Julius,  "can  you  contradict  it  ? " 

"Who  signed  it?" 

"Signed  it  is  not,  but  what  care  I  if  it  tells  the  truth  ?" 

"An  anonymous  letter  I  "  said  she  with  contempt; 
"  and  you  tiiist  it  i  A  vile  denunciation  has  in  your 
heart  a  stronger  influence  than  the  thousand  proofs  of 
love  which  1  gave  you  ?  You  have  for  me  so  much 
esteem  that  the  first  comer  can  slander  and  calumniate 
me  without  being  forced  to  answer  for  his  savings? 


ilMi 


iJi».p-w-,J5.!M«t'*&SM&s*i; 


'li'vai  iiii« 


^fl 


of  acting. 

not  upeuk 

erious  call 

ti  reported 

rumpling 
t  htw  been 
ic  <luy  be- 
I  wrapped 
stly  intro- 
)ur8  after; 
ti,  thougli 
lut  li(!  had 
,  and  that 
Is  it  no- 

ity;  "who 

idictit?" 

le  truth?" 
ontenipt ; 
1  in  your 
proofs  of 
so  much 
ilumniate 
savings? 


UNA  LRTTRRA  ANONTMA.  127 

"Egli  ?  fiisognerii  ch'  ei  mi  spicghi  11  suo  modo  di 
agire.  Non  h  pero  di  lul  che  qui  si  tratta,  voi  non  mi 
parlate  di  un  altro,  di  un  giovine  di  cui  mi  vcnno  rive- 
lata  la  misteriosa  visita." 

"Ahl"  Hoggiunse  Fanny,  "Che  ccm  vi  h  stato 
riforitoi" 

"Ci6  che  ho  saputo,"  grid6  Gi'iiio  spiegazzando  un 
foglio  che  trasse  dal  petto.  MI  h  stato  raccontato  che 
nel  tempo  della  mia  asHcn/u,  avant'  ieri  sulla  sera, 
un  giovine  avvolto  in  un  mantello  era  entrato  in  vo- 
etra  casa,  spgretamente  introdotto  da  Marianna,  e  che 
n'  era  pailito  solo  dopo  due  ore;  che  questo  giovine  era 
comparso  ctn  spesso,  abbenchfe  mai  voi  me  ne  abbiate 
parlato,  infine  ch'  egli  vi  aveva  conosciuto  prima, di 
me,  che  vi  amava,  e  cho  dovevate  sposai-lo;  h  egli  vero 
tutto  ci6?  Fa  d'  uopo  che  io  ve  ne  dica  anche  il 
nome  ? " 

"Egli  h  del  tutto  inutile,"  soggiunse  Fanny  con  di- 
gnity, "  chi  vi  dctte  simili  dettagli  'i " 

"Questa  lettera,"  rispose  Giulio,  "la  smentirete 
voi?" 

"De  chiefirmata?" 

"  Firmata?  non  lo  h  ma  che  importa,  se  dice  il  vero?" 

"Una  lettera  anonima  I"  riprese  Fanny  con  disprez- 
zo.  "Ad  essa  prestate  fede?  Una  vile  denunzia  ha  sul 
vostro  cuore  una  influenza  maggiore  delle  miile  prove 
ch'  io  vi  detti  del  mio  amore?  Voi  nutrite  per  me 
tanta  e  cosi  grimde  stima  che  il  primo  venuto  pu6  ca- 


i3?S^5ifei[  J 


■-~3?«^55fajSSSSSS!rSSfe^'S3^8^'S*?^???S!3i 


128  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

Ah !  sir,  what  future  are  you  preparing;  for  both  of  us  ?'' 
"  Instead  of  accusing,  defend  yourself.  If  the  au- 
thor of  this  letter  has  stated  a  falsehood,  I  will  dis- 
cover him,  and  I  swear  by  heaven  I  will  punish  him. 
But  if,  instead,  he  has  opened  my  eyes  in  regard  to 
you  and  to  a  perfidy  of  Avhich  I  would  have  been  the 
victim,  then  he  is  a  friend  and  it  is  m}-  duty  to  thank 
him.  Hear  what  he  writes,  and  afterward  tell  me 
which  name  he  deserves." 

Opening  the  paper,  with  a  choking  voice  he  read: 
"  Sir:  A  person  who  takes  an  interest  in  you,  but 
' '  who  wishes  not  to  expose  himself  to  the  hatred  of 
"any  one,  thinks  it  his  duty  to  take  the  veil  of  the 
"anonymous  to  enlighten  you  about  a  woman  who 
"  is  on  the  point  of  receiving  your  name.  I  do  not 
"  know  whether  you  were  the  fii-st  in  her  affection,  but 
"I  do  know  Ihat  you  are  not  the  first  that  ought  to 
"  to  have  led  her  to  the  altar.  A  young  man  of  her 
"own  place,  united  to  her  by  a  friendship  of  long 
' '  standing,  was  deeply  in  love  with  her  and  he  ought 
"  to  marry  her.  This  union  cannot  be  compared  with 
"  the  one  you  offer  her.  She  had  to  renounce  him, 
"  but  in  doing  so  she  has  not  ceased  to  see  him.  At 
"  the  beginning  of  your  acquaintance,  he  presented 
"  himself  at  her  house.  Afterward  he  called  again  ; 
"  once  you  met  him  before  the  door,  and  now  that  he 
"  is  obliged  to  depart,  she  has  received  his  farewell. 
"  Your  absence  from  Paris  favored  this  last  meeting. 


T 


both  of  us  ?" 
If  the  au- 
,  I  will  clis- 
punish  him. 
in  regard  to 
ave  been  the 
nty  to  thank 
-^ard  tell  me 

',e  he  read: 
t  in  you,  but 
:he  hatred  of 
e  veil  of  the 
woman  who 
3.  1  do  not 
iffecticm,  but 
!iat  ought  to 
■  man  of  her 
<hip  of  long 
nd  he  ought 
mpared  with 
nounce  him, 
ee  him.  At 
le  presented 
ialled  again ; 
now  that  he 
his  farewell. 
ast  meeting. 


UNA  LKTTERA  ANONIMA.  129 

lunniarmi  presso  voi  senza  nemuKMio  essere  costret- 
to  a  rendervi  conto  delle  sue  parole?  Oh,  signore, 
qual'  avvenire  ne  preparate  ad  ambedue?" 

"  In  luo2o  di  accusare  difendetevi.  Se  1'  autore  di 
questa  lettera  ha  mentito  io  sapro  scoprirlo,  e  giuro  al 
cielo  lo  puniro,  ma  se  invece  mi  apvi  gli  occhi  sul  vo- 
stro  conto  e  su  di  una  pei-fidia  della  quale  sarei  stato  la 
vittima,  allora  egli  h  un  amico,  ed  e  mio  dovere  il  rin- 
graziarlo.  Ascoltate  quanto  mi  scrive  e  ditemi  po- 
scia  qual  nome  egli  si  meriti." 

Spiegando  11  foglio,  ei  lessc  con  voce  soffocata  : 
"  SiGNOKE  :  Una  persona  che  s'  inter.'ssa  a  voi,  ma 
"chenonvuole  esporsi  all' odio  di  chicchesia,  crede 
"  suo  dovere  assumere  il  velo  dell'  anonimo  per  illu- 
"  minarvi  sul  conto  di  una  persona  ch'  e  in  procinto 
"  di  ricevere  il  vostro  nome.  Ignoro  sse  slate  il  primo 
"  nel  suo  affetto,  so  pero  che  non  siete  il  primo  che  do- 
"  vete  condurla  all'  altare.  Un  giovine  del  suo  paese, 
"unito  a  lei  da  un'  amicizia  di  lunga  data  1'  amava 
"  perdutamente  e  doveva  sposarla.  Quest'  unione 
"  non  poteva  porsi  a  paragone  con  quella  che  tira 
"  voi  le  off'rite.  Essa  dovctte  rinunziare  a  lui,  ma 
"  rinunziandovi  non  ha  cessato  di  vederlo.  Giil  sui 
"  primordii  della  vostra  conoscenza  si  era  presentato 
"alia  sua  casa;  vi  e  dappoi  ritornato,  voi  lo  incon- 
"  traste  una  volta  innanzi  la  porta,  ed  adesso  che  deve 
"  allontanarsi,  essa  ha  ricevuto  i  suoi  addii.  La  vo- 
"stra  assenza  da  Parigi  favoriva  quest' ultimo  con- 


130  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

"  Yesterday  evening,  Mr.  Ernest  Gairal,  with  many 
**  precautions,  entered  her  house,  and  after  two  houi-s 
"he  left " 

"Forever,"  exclaimed  Fanny,  rising,  "forever  1 " 

"  You  then  confess  that  he  has  come  ? " 

"  Yes,  please  now  listen  to  me." 

"No,  nothing!  nothing!"  replied  Julius,  raging. 

"Listen.  One  condemns  a  person,  then,  without 
allowing  him  to  answer?  I  am  innocent.  I  was 
wrong  in  keeping  it  a  secret  because  of  your  jealousy, 
which  I  feared.  This  young  man  had  been  chosen 
for  my  husband  by  my  father.  For  him  I  did  not 
experience  either  hati-ed  or  love.  I  left  my  birthplace 
without  even  telling  him.  He  came  here  once  to  re- 
mind me  of  the  intentions  of  our  respective  families, 
and  I  did  not  give  him  any  hope,  although  I  did  not 
then  know  you.  He  loved  me,  it  is  true;  that  he  re- 
turned to  visit  me  is  also  true;  and  the  day  before  yes- 
terday he  again  retunied.  I  did  not  conceal  from 
him  my  love  for  you,  or  your  generous  conduct,  nor 
the  destiny  which  awaits  me.  He  left  me  resigned, 
and,  as  I  told  you,  forever.  For  me,  dear,  this  visit 
had  no  importance;  it  came  unexpectedly,  and  if  I 
have  not  spoken  to  you  before,  it  is  only  because  it 
passed  away  from  my  mind." 

This  defence,  so  simple,  had  destroyed,  little  by 
little,  almost  aU  the  suspicions  of  Julius.    In  pro- 


ith  many 
;wo  houra 

ever  1 " 


I,  raging. 
,  without. 
.  I  was 
jealousy, 
m  chosen 
[  did  not 
>irthplace 
Qce  to  re- 
fumilies, 
I  did  not 
lat  he  re- 
3fore  yes- 
eal  from 
iuct,  nor 
resigned, 
this  visit 
and  if  I 
•ecause  it 

little  by 
In  pro- 


^^^SSmm&J!' 


(( 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  131 

vegno.    lersera  il  signor  Ernesto  Gairal  h  penetrate 
"  in  casa  con  molta  precauzione  e  dopo  due  ore  egli  h 

"parti  to " 

"Per  sempre  1 "  esclamo  Fanny  alzandosi,  per  sem- 

pre!" 

' '  Conf essate  dunque  ch'  egli  h  venuto  ?  * 

"Si,  ora  compiacetevi  di  ascoltarmi." 

"  No,  nulla,  nulla  1 "  riprese  Giulio  fremendo. 

"  Ascoltatemi.     Si  condanna  f  orse  alcuno  senza  per- 

mettergli  di  rispondere?     lo  sono  innocente.     II  mio 

torto  e  quello  di  avere  avuto  un  mistero  motivato  dalla 

vostra  gelosia  ch'  io  temeva.     Quel  giovine  altra  volta 

mi  venne  scelto  a  marito  da  mio  padre.     Non  provava 

per  lui  ne  odio,  ne  amore;  lasciai  il  paese  senza  nem- 

meno  a\  .1..    lo.     Si  presento  qui  una  volta  per  ricor- 

darmi  le  irv.     *  ;"  delle  nostre  rispettivefamiglie,  non 

gli  lasciai  fc    u,  iv  i  di  soi-ta,  eppure,  in  quell' epoca, 

Giulio,  ancoru  ;o  non  vi  conoscea.     Mi  am6,  h  v^o. 

Di  bel  nuovo  h  ritornato  a  visitarmi,  e  anche  vero,  ed 

avant'  ieri  h  nuovamente  venuto  qui.     Non  gli  ho  na- 

scosto  r  amore  mio  per  voi,  ne  la  vostra  generosa  con- 

dotta,  ne  il  destine  che  mi  attendeva.     Ei  rassegnato 

mi  lasci6,  e  come  vi  dissi,  per  sempre.   Per  me,  amico, 

questa  visita  non  aveva  importanza  alcuna,  mi  giunse 

inaspettata  e  se  prima  non  ve  ne  parlai  fu  solo  perche 

mi  sfuggi  di  mente." 

Questa  discolpa  cosi  semplice  aveva  presso  a  poco 
distrutto  quasi  tutti  i  sospetti  di  Giulio.     A  misura 


183  AN  ANONTTMOUS  LETTER. 

portion  as  she  spoke,  the  confusion  and  agitation  of 
his  heart  faded  away  to  give  place  U»  the  shame  of 
having  shown  himself  so  cruel.  Moved  by  the  sincere 
tone  of  these  explanations,  he  was  already  prepared 
to  fail  at  the  feet  of  that  woman  Avho  had  once  more 
become  his  idol,  when  his  eyes  rested  on  the  end  of 
the  letter,  which  he  had  not  yet  read.  He  'vished 
for  a  final  trial. 

' ' Forgive  me,  Fanny.  I  ask  you  a  thousand  pardons 
if  I  have  wronged  you  or  susjjected  you  unjustly. 
My  excessive  love  made  me  unj ust.  Bo  not  provoked 
at  my  anger.  The  secrete  hidden  by  you  may  ^erve 
suj  an  excuse  for  this  moment  of  rage.  Do  you  for- 
give me  ? " 

She  placed  one  of  her  hands  on  her  heart,  and 
oflFering  the  other,  which  he  covered  with  kisses,  said: 

"Ahl  Julius,  what  pain  you  have  given  me  I  I 
should  never  have  thought  I  could  suffer  so  much 
without  dying." 

"Now,"  he  added,  "as  a  guarantee  of  this  recon- 
ciliation, give  me  the  token  which  till  now  you  have 
refused— the  ring,  the  only  souvenir  of  your  mother. 
The  more  dear  it  is  to  your  heart  the  more  acceptal)le 
to  me  will  the  sacrifice  be." 

Fanny  answered,  smiling :  "Have  you  forgotten 

what  I  have  already  told  you?     Why  this  so  earnest 

desire  ?    And  what  high  value  could  it  have  to  you  ? " 

"  Does  it  not  contain  the  hair  of  my  Funny  ^— hair 


i4M 


mmmmm 


SSWi^SW^«^i^K^^^« 


tation  of 
jliame  of 
e  sincere 
[)repared 
ice  moi*e 
3  end  of 
J  wished 

pardons 
injustly. 
rovoked 
!iy  serve 
you  for- 

ai-t,  and 
es,  said: 
me  I  I 
9  much 

i  recon- 
m  have 
mother. 
}eptat)le 

•rgotten 
earnest 
»you?" 
i — hair 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  133 

ch'essa  parlava,  la  confii>>ioneed  ilturbamonto  del  auo 
cuore  dissipavansi  per  far  luogc  alia  vergogna  di  es- 
sersi  mostrato  cosi  crudole.  Commosso  dal  tuono  sin- 
cero  di  quesla  difesa,  egli  glA  era  pronto  a  gettai*si  ai 
piedi  di  quella  donna  ridivenuta  il  suo  idolo,  allor- 
che  i  suoi  occhi  si  arrestarono  suUa  fine  della  lettera, 
ch'  esrli  ancora  non  aveva  letto.  Voile  tentare  un 
ultimo  esperimento. 

VPordonami,  Fanny,  ti  domando  mille  perdoni,  se 
ti  ho  (jconosciuta,  se  ti  sospettai  ingiustamente.  L'  ec- 
cesso  del  mio  amore  mi  rende  ingiusto.  Non  corruc- 
ciarti  del  mio  sdegno.  I  segreti  da  te  nascosti  del)- 
bono  servile  di  scusa  a  questo  mio  momcnto  di  rabbia. 
Mi  perdoni  taV 

Essa  poso  una  delle  sue  mani  sul  cuore  ed  abban- 
donandogli  1'  altra  ch'  ei  ricopri  di  baci,  gli  disse : 

*'Ah!  Giulio  che  dolore  mi  avete  fatto,  non  avrei 
creduto  di  poter  soft'rire  tanto  senza  morire. " 

'"Adesso,"  ei  riprese,  "  per  garanzia  di  questa  ricon- 
ciliazione,  accordami  il  pegno  che  tin  qui  constante- 
mente  mi  hai  rifiutato,  1'  anello  che  solo  ti  resta 
dell'  ei*editi\  di  tua  madre.  Piu  e  desso  caro  al  tuo 
cuore,  piu  aceetto  me  ne  sar^  il  sagiiiicio." 

Fanny  rispose  sorridendo : 

"Haitu  diraenticato  quanto  gik  ti  dissi?  Perche 
questo  tuo  cosl  vivo  desiderio  <  E  qual  gran  pregio 
esso  possiede  ai  tuoi  occhi  ? " 

"  Non  contiene  forse  i  capelli  della  raia  Fanny,  ca- 


I 


13*  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEJH. 

takfii  from  her  head  when  a  child?  Do  not  refuse  it 
to  me,  I  entreat  you.  I  know  where  you  keep  it.  It 
is  in  a  little  casket  at  the  bottom  of  the  first  drawer 
of  this  secretaire.     Please  ^ive  me  the  key." 

His  looks  were  always  sweet  and  affectionate,  hut 
his  voice  trembled  and  had  a  strange  tone  of  rage. 
Fanny  perceived  it. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  said,  '  'you  are  asking  for  your  pardon. " 
She  hid  the  key  in  her  bosom  and  withdrew  a  few 
steps. 

"I  do  wish  it,"  cried  Julius,  giving  free  course 
to  the  anger  he  had  restrained  withsomu«!h  difficulty. 
"  I  do  wish  this  key,  I  need  it,  even  if  I  must  wring 
it  from  you " 

"  Always  suspicious  ! " 

*'  Always  some  mystery  ! " 

"Well,  then,  I  shall  disclose  you  everything.  If 
till  now  I  have  refused  to  you  to  open  ray  secretaire,  it 
was  only  because  in  it  you  would  find  some  accounts, 
some  documenlB  which  would  have  revealed  to  you 
that  instead  of  living  upon  an  income  bequeathed  to 
me,  as  I  always  told  you,  1  lived  by  my  labor.  I  did 
not  confess  the  truth  to  you,  because  1  was  too  proud 
to  accept  your  gifts.  Have  I  committed  a  crime? 
and  those  who  have  written  to  you,  will  they  yet 
maintain  that  I  am  a  woman,  moved  by  interest?" 

"Then  you  could  deceive  me  for  so  long  a  time, 


refuse  it 

p  it.    It 

drawer 

late,  hut 
)f  rage. 

tardon." 
w  a  few 

course 
fBculty. 
t  wring 


ng.  If 
taire,  it 
icounts, 
to  you 
thed  to 
I  did 
>  proud 
crime  ? 
ley  yet 
It?" 
a  time, 


UNA  LEITERA  ANONIMA.  135 

pelH  stftccati  dalla  sua  fronte  allorchfe  era  bambinetta? 
Non  rifiutarmelo  te  lo  scongiuro.  lo  so  dove  lo  chiu- 
di.  Esso  trovasi  in  un  piccolo  scrigno  nel  fondo 
della  prima  cassetta  di  questo  armadio.  Damniene  la 
chiave,  te  ne  prego." 

I  suoi  sguardi  erano  semj  \ow  nffettuosi  la  sua 
voce  pero  tremava  ed  aveva  uno  h^.ano  accento  di 
ra])bia.     Fanny  ne  fece  1'  osservnzione. 

«'  Ah  !"  diss'  ella,  *'  domandatc  il  vostro  pordono." 
Essa  nascose  la  chiave  nel  seno  ed  indietroggio  al- 
cuni  passi. 

"  La  voglio,"  insistette  Giulio,  lasciando  libero  cor- 
so  all'  ira  che  con  tanto  stento  aveva  trattenuta.    "  Si, 
voglio  quella  chiave,  ne  ho  bisogno,  e  piuttosto  ve  la 
strapper6 . . . . " 
"  Sempre  sospetti !  * 
"Sempre  mistori !" 

«-Ebbene  vi  sveler6  il  tutto.  Se  finora  ricusai  di 
aprirvi  quel  mobile  fu  soltanto;  perche  nello  stesso  vi 
trovereste  alcuni  conti,  alcune  carte,  che  vi  svelerebbe- 
ro  qualmente,invece  di  vivere  con  una  pensioue  che  mi 
era  stata  legata,  siccome  sempre  vi  assicurai,  io  viveva 
col  prodotto  del  mio  lavoro.  Non  vi  confessai  la  ve- 
rity per  essere  troppo  orgogliosa  da  ricevere  ed  accet- 
tare  i  vostri  doni.  Ho  io  commesso  un  delitto  ?  e  co- 
lore che  vi  scrivono,  sosterranno  ancora  essere  io  una 
donna  mossa  dall'  interesse  ? " 

"  Dunque  avete  potuto  ingannarmi  o  siffatta  menso- 


■j^awawwifewiwmwg'it^  '^.^  >' 


v■Awa^»l>«K^WAa■..^■..JR'..J'M!l^..^''l'^■>''-•^^^■^'-"-^Jl^^'.^'^wwl.lulJM!^.p| 


,,'i  ' 


^^^  AN  ANONVMOU8  LETTER. 

and  you  could  repeat  to  me  this  falsehood  so  many 
times  without  my  detecting  it,  so  great  was  the  sin- 
cerity which  shone  in  your  face,  so  innocent  was  your 
mouth,  as  it  is  at  this  very  moment,  in  which  you  are 
agam  deceiving  me."  So  saying,  he  wrung  the  kcA- 
from  her  han<l«.  Amazed  by  such  violence,  Fanny 
fell  senseless  into  the  arm-chair.     Julius  opened  the 

secretaire,  then  the  drawer  and  the  casket but  the 

ring  was  not  there. 

"  Ah  I "  he  exclaimed,  "I  was  quite  sure  of  it." 
At  these  words,  Fanny  recovered  her  consciousness, 
ran  to  the  secretaire  and  also  began  to  search. 
"My  ring!  my  ring!" 
"Disappeared  I" 
" Stolen  1  stolon  I" 

"Yes,  stolen,"  repeated  Julius,  and  violently  seiz- 
ing the  girl  by  the  arm,  he  thrust  the  letter  before 
her  eyes  and  finished  reading  it  aloud  : 

"The  proof,  sir,  that  all  the  relations  between 
"that  woman  and  her  first  lover  are  not  ended,  the 
"proof  that  they  loved  each  other  and  that  Gairal's 
"departure  had  for  its  purpose  only  to  facilitate  an 
"advantageous  marriage,  is  in  the  fact  that  before 
"they  parted  she  wished  him  to  accept  a  family  rina 
"which  had  belonged  to  her  mother,  which  she  jeaf- 
"ously  kept,  and  in  which  was  enclosed  her  hair." 


50  mnny 
the  sin- 
ms  your 
yoii  are 
the  key 
,  Fanny 
ned  the 
but  the 

Mt." 
>usness, 


ly  seiz- 
before 

etwecn 
led,  the 
lairal'tt 
tHte  an 
before 
ly  ring 
e  jeul- 
hajr." 


TJNA  LinTKRA  ANOVTMA.  137 

gna  avete  potuto  ripetermela  tante  volte,  senza  ch'  io 
me  ne  addasai,  tanta  era  la  sinccriUl  che  traspariva 
dal  vostro  sguardo,  cosl  8oniV)lii«  era  la  vostra  bocca 
come  lo  h  adesso,  in  qucsto  sti-sso  monicnto  in  cui  di 
bel  nuovo  m' ingannato."  Cort\  parlundo,  le  strapp6 
dalle  mani  la  cliiave.  Stupefatta  da  questa  violcnza 
Fanny  cadde  tranioi-tita  suUa  poltiona.     Giulio  apri 

lo  scrittoio,  quindi  il  cassettino,  poi  lo  scrigno 

1'  anollo  non  vi  era. 

"  Ah  ! "    Egli  e8clam6  "  n'  era  pei-suaso ! " 
A  questo  parole,  Fanny  si  rianim6,  corse  alio  scrit- 
toio ed  essa  pure  si  dette  a  cere-are. 
"II  mio  anello !      11  mio  anello ! " 
"Scomparso." 
"Rubatol    Kubato!" 

"Si,  rubato  !"  ripete  Giulio  ed  aflferrando  lagiovine 
donna  pel  braccio  le  pose  sotto  gli  occhi  la  lettera  c 
termino  di  leggerla  ad  alta  voce." 

"  La  prova,  signore,  che  tutte  le  relazioni  fra  co- 
"  testa  donna  e  1'  antico  suo  amante  non  sono  ancora 
"  interamente  cessate,  la  prova  ch'  essi  si  amano  sem- 
"pre,  e  che  la  pai-tenza  di  Ernesto  Gairal  servir  do 
"  vea  soltanto  a  facilitare  un  av  vantaggiosomatrimonio 
"  sta  nel  fatto  che  prima  di  separai-si  essa  ha  voluto 
•'dargli  un  anello  di  ftuniglia,  anello  appartcncnte  a 
"sua  madre  ch'  essa  gelosament*  conservava  e  nel 
"quale  sono  racchiusi  i  suoi  capelli." 
"Ebbene,"  prosegul  Giulio,  "negate  ora  se  osate. 


I 


138  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

"  Well,"  pui-8ued  Julius,  "will  you  deny  it  now? 
This  ring  you  had  refused  mo;  the  key,  too,  you  were 
refusing  not  long  ngo.  Knavery  on  knavery  1  false- 
hood on  falsehood  I " 

"Marion,"  cried  Fanny. 

"Ah,  you  well  know  that  she  is  not  at  home.  I 
alone  will  answi-r  you.  I  euiso  you  and  hate  the  day 
in  which  I  became  acquainted  with  you.  Farewell  I 
farewell  I     Say  to  your  lover  that  he  can  now  n^turn." 

In  depart!  II  f-,  he  cast  a  last  look  at  F.mny.  She  was 
lying  on  the  tioor  immovable,  pale,  in  a  state  near  to 
death.  Ho  made  a  few  steps  to  help  her,  but  his  feel- 
ino:s  of  anger  and  contempt  returning,  he  called  an 
old  woman,  her  neighbor,  and  after  pointing  out  to 
her  the  fainted  Fanny  : 

"Take  care  of  that  woman  ! "  he  said,  and,  throw- 
ing her  a  puree  tilled  with  gold,  disappeared. 


V. 

THE  AUTOGRAPH. 

At  the  moment  in  which  Romeo  receives  from  his 
servant,  Balthazar,  the  now<  of  Juliet's  death,  he  pro- 
nounces these  simple  words  :  "  Indeed  I  Now,  ene- 
mies, stars,  I  challenge  you  I "  and  aftenvards  buys 
the  poison.  This  deep  grief,  so  parsimonious  of  com- 
plaints, impresses  more  than  any  exciting  paraphrase. 
In  fact,  our  nature  usu  ..ly  takes  interest  in  the  doings 


ill  I   iiiiif  Itlliliii. 


ft  now? 
on  were 
( !  false- 


ome.  I 
the  (lay 
irowell  I 
return." 
She  wus 
I  noiir  to 
his  feol- 
rtlled  nn 
[  out  to 

,  throw- 


Tom  his 
he  pro- 
3W,  ene- 
l8  buys 
of  com- 
iphrase. 
3  doings 


TTNA  TiETTKRA  ANONTMA.  139 

Qnesto  anello  lo  avote  ricusato  a  nie!  La  chiave 
pure  mo  la  ricrusavate.  Furberia  m  furboria  1  Eu- 
gia  8U  bugia  I " 

• '  Mariunna, "  grido  Fanny. 

"  Oh,  voi  ben  sapete  com'  oRsa  non  sia  in  ensn  !  To 
solo  vi  rispondero.  lo  vi  maledico  e  detcsto  il  giorno 
in  cui  vi  conobbi.  Addio !  addio  !  dite  al  vostro 
amante  ch'  adeHso  egli  piio  lil)cram(nte  ritornure." 

Ncl  partire  getto  m  Fanny  un'  ultima  occhiata. 
Essa  era  distosa  bocconi  a  terra  in  uno  stato  vicino  a 
morte.  '  Ei  avanz6  per  venirle  in  soccorso,  nia  ritor- 
nando  ai  suoi  sentinionti  di  sdegno  ♦•  di  dibprez/.o, 
U8cl,  chiamo  una  vechia  vicina  ed  ndditandole  Fanny 

svenuta. 

"  Abbiate  cnra  di  questa  donna,"  le  disso :  o  gettun- 
dole  una  borsa  plena  d'  oro  sconiparvo. 


V. 

L'  AUTOGRAFO. 

Nel  memento  in  cui  Romeo  riceve  dal  suo  servitore 
Baldassare  la  notizia  della  morte  di  Giulietta,  ei  pro- 
raunzia  queste  semplice  parole :  "Davvero  !  Adesso, 
neniiche  stelle,  io  vi  sfido,"  e  poscla  compra  il  veleno. 
Questo  cupo  dolore  cosi  parco  di  lamenti  impressiona 
piu  di  qualpiasi  commovente  parafrasi.  Infatti,  la 
nostra  natura  suole  interessarsi  all'  operato  dei  nostri 


m  .?{j.J..', 


iiMiiauMVMHiijiiwimm^.  i 


=jl 


140  AN  ANONTMOU8  LRTIER. 

of  our  fpllowd,  wlintcver  they  aim  at,  and  sometimes 
even  when  their  sentiments  and  fedinpjs  arc  not  in 
harmony  with  onrH.  This  interent  hists  while  iiopo 
supports  it  and  imtil  unceilainty  delays  tlie  result, 
but  from  the  moment  in  wliich  his  destiny  is  accom- 
plished, it  is  necessary  that  he  in  whom  wo  were  in- 
terested spare  us  his  joy  or  grief.  A  settled  mutter 
excites  our  attention  no  longer.  Wo,  too,  will  spare 
our  readers  the  description  of  Julius  Valabort's  mental 
Bufferings. 

After  the  dreadful  scene  we  have  narrated,  we  will 
pass  over  an  interval  of  eighteen  months,  and  wo  shall 
find  him  married  for  a  year,  and  at  the  moment  in 
which  the  wife,  opening  the  door  of  his  oftice,  with  a 
sweet  and  timid  voice  says  to  him  : 

"Excuse  me  if  I  am  intruding,  but  the  pei-son  you 
sent  for  has  arrived.  Do  you  wish  to  receive  him 
now,  or  do  you  prefer  that  he  should  wait  ?  " 

Julius  had  married  his  kind  cousin,  Adele  de  Lau- 
nay.  Very  few  words  are  necessary  to  explain  the 
change  whicsh  had  taken  place  in  the  respective  posi- 
tions of  these  two  persons. 

As  a  result  of  the  rupture  with  Fannj'^,  a  violent 
fever  had  endangered  the  life  of  Julius.  He  would 
certainly  have  died  without  the  constant  care  of  his 
mother  and  Adele.     Friendship  and   love  had  re- 


otnetimes 
ro  not  in 
hilo  hope 
lie  rcHult, 
is  acconi- 
3  were  in- 
cd  mutter 
w'\\l  Hpare 
b's  mental 

I,  we  will 
1  wo  shall 
onient  in 
-•e,  with  a 

ii-son  you 

leive  him 
> 

a  de  Lau- 
plain  the 
tive  posi- 

a  violent 

ie  would 

ire  of  his 

had  re- 


-rnnr—'  "-'ifiirrM  i  «-i  - --r-  •'    •  iTnniiiiiiiit-'  iiTtfiMii  - 


UNA  liRTTERA  ANOMMA. 


141 


simili,  quaIiin(|Uo  no  8ia  lo  scopo  che  si  prefiggonf),  c 
(pialchevoltu  auehe  allorquando  i  loro  sontiraonti  o  hi 
loro  piiHsioni  non  si  confucciH.iocollonostrc;  quest'  in 
toresse  dunifincliH  In  speranzu  lo  soMticne  e  finch6  I'in- 
wirUvMi  ne  ritardu  lo  soiogliniciitoidall'  instante  pcro 
in  cui  il  loro  destino  6  couii)iuto,  fu  d'  uopo  oho  colui 
al  quale  c'  interessiaino  ci  rispniini  la  sua  gioia  ed  il 
suo  dolore.  Fatto  compiiitA)  piii  non  eecita  la  no- 
stra uttenzione-  Noi  pure  riHjMU'niimeiuo  ai  nostri 
lettori  il  racoonto  doi  patiminti  morall  di  Giulio  Va- 
lahert. 

Dopo  la  terriliile  scena  tent^  da  noi  narrata  aalttv 
renio  un  intervfdlo  di  dieciotto  niesi  e  ritrovorenio 
Giulio  unuuogliato  da  circa  un  anno  «•  nel  momento  in 
cui  la  consorte,  aprendo  la  porta  del  suo  studio,  gli 
dice  con  voce  dolce  e  tiniida. 

'*  Scusa,  se  ti  disturbo,  caro,  pevh  la  persona  da  te 
fatta  ricercare  6  qui.  Vuoi  tu  ri^everla  adesso,  o  con- 
iriono  farla  aspettare  ? " 

Giulio  aveva  sposato  la  sua  antica  arnica,  la  sua 
buona  cugina  Adele  de  Launay. 

Alcune  poche  parole  sono  indispensabili  per  spie- 
gare  il  cambiamento  accaduto  nella  posizione  di  que- 
sti  due  pcrsonnaggi. 

Dopo  la  rottura  con  Fanny,  una  violente  febbre  avea 
messo  a  repentaglio  la  vita  di  Giulio. 

Ei  certamente  sarebbe  perito  senza  le  infinite  solle- 
oitudiui  di  sua  madre  e  di  Adele.     L'  amicizia  e  la 
11 


142  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

stored  him  to  life.     A  deep  sadness  and  protracted 
lan<yuor  followed  his  delirium;  without  will  and  with- 
out  opposition  he  allowed  himself  to  be  carried  to  the 
coimtry,  Avhere,  according  to   the  doctor's  opinion, 
the  pure,    fresh  air  Avould  restore  his   energy,  and 
where  the  sight  of  new  objects  would  cancel,  little  by 
little,  the  remembrance  of  the  sad  event.     In  com- 
pany with   his  mother  and   cousin,  he  went  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Lyons.     There  was  a  momtmt  when 
they  thought  to  have  the  company  of  Mr.  Saint-Gilles, 
but  the  presence  of  this  gentleman  was  obnoxious  to 
Julius,  who  did  not  doubt  that  the  anonymous  letter 
was  his  work,  although  inwardly  he  sincerely  thanked 
him  for  having  enlightened  him.     All  that  reminded 
him   of  the  infsunous  treachery  caused  painful  and 
grievous   emotion.     Perhaps,   in  his  heart,    he  had 
tiattered  himself  with  the  expectation  of  receiving  a 
letter  from  Fanny,  in  which  she  would  try  to  justify 
herself.     However,  he  had  not  heard  from  her;  all 
those  who  approached  him  kept  silent,  and  Julius, 
blushing  and  ashamed  of  his  weakness,  dare  not  con- 
tide  in  any  one  of  his  frientls. 

Thus  he  left  Paris  hiding  in  himself  the  dumb  grief 
which  gnawed  Avithin,  too  offended  to  think  of  a  rec- 
onciliation and  yet  too  deeply  in  love  to  unbosom  his 
grief  to  others. 

But  every  hour  which  jiasses  pours  a  drop  of  balm 


nd  protracted 
will  and  with- 
carried  to  the 
jtor's  opinion, 
i  energ\',  and 
ancel,  little  by 
ent.  In  com- 
e  went  to  the 
nioni(!nt  when 
r.  Saint-Gilles, 
8  obnoxious  to 
jnymous  letter 
cerely  thanked 
that  reminded 
1  painful  and 
heart,  he  had 
of  receiving  a 
try  to  justify 
from  her;  all 
it,  and  Julius, 
I,  dare  not  con- 

the  dumb  grief 
think  of  a  rec- 
to unbosom  his 

a  drop  of  balm 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


143 


nconoscenza  gli  i-estituirono  la  vita.     Una  profonda 
tnstezza,  una  malattia  di   languorc  succedette  ai  suoi 
dehranti  transporti;  senza  volere  e  senza  resistenza  si 
lascio  condurre  in  campagna  dove  secondo  I'  opinio- 
nedei  medici,  1'  aria  pifi  pura  e  piu  vivace  gli  restitui- 
rebbe  1'  encrgia,  e  la  vista  fli  nuovi  oggetti  scancelle- 
rebbe  poco  a  poco  i  ricordi  della  tristissima  avventura. 
Unitamente  alia  madre  ed  alia  cugina  ei  parti  pei  din- 
torni  di  Lione.    Fuwi  un  momento  in  cui  si  penso  di 
farlo  accompagnare  dal  signor  Saint-Gilles;  ma  la  sua 
preseuza  era  incresciosa  a  Giulio,  il  quale  fermanente 
credeva  essere  1'  anonima  lettera  un  suo  operato,  ab- 
benche  nel  profondo  del  ;stio  cuore  lo  ringraziasse  di 
averlo  iUuminato.  Tutto  quanto  gli  ricordava  1'  infame 
tradimento  gU  cagionava  una  nociva  e  penosa  impres- 
sione..     Foi-s'   cgU  scgretamente  erasi   lusingato   di 
veder  giungere  una  lettera  di  Fanny,  nella  quale  ella 
tentasse  di  giustificarsi.     Pcro  egli  non  ne  aveva  rice- 
vuto  alcuna  notizia;  tutti  coloro  che  lo  avvicinavano 
rimauevano  silenziosi,e  Giulio  arrossendo  e  vergoo-nan- 
dosi  della  sua  debolezza  non  ardiva  eontidarsi  innes- 
suno  dei  suoi  amici. 

In  talmaniera  ei  lascio  Parigi  concentiando  in  se 
etesso  ii  muto  dolore  che  lo  rodeva,  credendosi  troppo 
offeso  per  pensare  ad  una  riconciliazione  ed  essendo 
aucora  troppo  amoroso  per  sfogare  il  suo  dolore  nei 
seno  di  altri. 
Ogni  ora  pero  che  passa  vei-sa  una  goccia  di  bal- 


i 


144  AM  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

into  the  most  painful  wound,  and  every  day  which 
dies  takes  away  one  of  the  thorns  which  make  the 
heai't  bleed.  During  the  firat  few  months  passed,  in 
the  country,  Julius  felt  no  sensible  improvement.  The 
days  were  excessively  hot  and  the  sultry  nights  were 
too  oppressive  for  his  feeble  constitution.  The  flow- 
ers, which  were  in  all  their  beauty,  their  perfumes, 
the  golden  fruits  of  the  earth,  the  plains  covered  with 
verdure,  the  thick  foliage  of  the  woods,  that  powerful 
germ  of  life  which  abundantly  circulated  in  nature, 
all  these  beauties  of  the  sky  and  the  earth  oppressed 
him  as  a  stinging  irony,  as  a  complete  contrast  with 
the  desolation  and  the  dryness  of  his  soul,  in  which 
nothing  grew  except  a  bitter  agony  which  he  persisted 
in  keeping  hidden.  However,  little  by  little,  flowers 
withered,  autumn  appeared  with  its  train  of  shadows 
and  air  filled  with  dew,  with  its  pale  sun  shining 
through  ifogs  as  a  smile  through  tears.  Julius  felt 
that  intense  grief  partially  dispelled.  The  sadness 
and  mourning  of  the  objects  which  snri*ounded  him 
harmonized  with  his  own  sadness  and  invited  him  to 
confidences. 

His  solitary  walks  were  replaced  by  others  with 
his  mother  and  Adele  de  Launay,  and  between  the 
latter  and  himself  a  greater  intimacy  began.  The 
woman  who  had  once  foreseen  his  desires,  who  had 
shared  his  hopes,  ought  she  not  naturally  to  be  the 
tii-st  to  console  him  ?    Only  with  her  he  dared  to  speak 


day  which 
make  the 
i  passed,  in 
nient.  The 
ights  were 
The  flow- 
perfumes, 
ivered  with 
it  powerful 
in  nature, 
I  oppressed 
titrast  with 
I,  in  which 
le  persisted 
tie,  flowers 
^t  shadows 
Lin  shining 
Julius  felt 
he  sadness 
unded  him 
ited  him  to 

others  with 
>etween  the 
egan.  The 
es,  who  had 
y  to  be  the 
:'ed  to  speak 


t^A  LETTBRA  ANONMA.  146 

samo  suUe  ferite  lo  piii  vivu,  ogni  giorao  che  muore 
strappa  una  dello  spine  che  fanuo  sanguiuare  il  cuore. 
Nel  corso  dei  primi  mesi  passati  alia  campagna  Giulio 
non  esperiment^  visibili  miglioria.  I  giorni  erano  ec- 
cessivamente  caldi,  e  le  tiepidi  notti  troppo  pesanti  pel 
suo  debole  corpo.  I  fiori  che  si  trovavano  in  tutta  la 
loro  bellezza,  il  loro  prof umo,  i  frutti  dorati  della  terra, 
le  pianure  ricoperte  di  verdura,  il  folto  fogliame  dei 
lioschi,  quel  potente  germe  di  vita  che  circolava  in  ab- 
bondanza  nella  natura,  tutte  quelle  magnificenze  del 
cielo  e  della  terra  l'  opprimevano  quale  una  pungente 
ironia,  quasi  una  completa  antitesi  del  suo  cuore  nel 
quale  nulla  germogliava  tranne  un  pungente  dolore 
ch'  ei  si  ostinava  a  tenere  celato.  Poco  a  poco  i  fiori 
inaridirono,  1'  autunno  comparve  col  suo  corteggio 
d'  ombra  e  1'  aria  piena  di  rugiada,  col  suo  paUido  sole 
risplendente  a  traverso  le  nebbie  come  un  sorriso  a 
traverso  le  lagrime.  Giulio  sent!  espandei-si  in  lui 
queir  iramenso  dolore.  La  tristezza  ed  il  lutto  degli 
oggetti  che  lo  circondavano  armonizzava  coUa  sua  tri- 
stezza e  lo  invitavano  alle  confidenze. 

Le  sue  solitarie  passeggiate  vennero  sostituite  da 
altre  in  compngnia  della  madre  e  di  Adele  de  Launay; 
e  fra  lui  e  quest'  ultima  comincio  a  stabilirsi  una  piii 
grande  intimity  La  donna  che  aveva  prevenuto  i 
suoi  desiderii,  che  altravoita  aveva  diviso  le  sue  spe- 
ranze  non  doveva  forse  essere  naturalmente  la  prima 
a  cousolarlo  i    Solo  con  lei  egli  ardiva  parlare  di  Fan- 


-jiwiuji.  itiamilimmmimim 


m- 


146  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

of  Fanny.  In  these  long  private  conversations,  which 
became  of  daily  occurrence,  in  those  prolonged  chat, 
torings  near  the  fire  in  the  evenings,  she  narrated  by 
what  means  she  had  caused  the  rupture  of  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  de  Septeuil  •  how  without  any  one 
knowing  it,  an  act  justiHcd  by  her  intention,  she  had 
in  her  hand  the  thread  of  that  intrigue;  how  by 
means  of  suspicions  dexterously  insiiuiatcd  she  had 
prepared  the  countess  for  the  tirst  refusal ;  how,  at 
the  «ame  time,  having  learned  that  Miss  Septeuil, 
with  no  love  for  Julius,  only  obeyed  her  mother, 
taking  advantage  of  that  first  moment  of  spite,  she 
had  advised  a  prior  suitor  to  renew  his  courtship. 
From  confidence  to  confidence  she  ended  by  revealing 
to  hini  a  secret  which  she  had  concealed  from  all  in 
order  not  to  add  her  own  griefs  to  those  which  Julius 
already  felt.  She  had  not  wished  to  take  for  herself 
any  of  the  consolations  due  to  him.  Mr.  de  Launay 
had  died,  and  that  sad  intellig(mce  had  been  received 
by  Adcle  a  little  before  the  time  at  which  Julius  had 
thought  he  was  betrayed  in  his  love.  The  youth  wa« 
never  tired  of  admiring  such  inexhaustible  kindness, 
always  ready  to  sacrifice  itself  for  othera.  This  trea- 
sure at  this  moment  belonged  to  n-  one.  Their  in- 
terviews were  becoming  longer  and  more  frequent, 
and  without  having  lost  any  of  their  intimacy  and 


)n8,  which 
nged  chat, 
ir  rated  by 
t  his  mar- 
t  any  one 
0,  she  had 
;  how  by 
d  she  had 
;  how,  at 
Septeuil, 
r  mother, 
spite,  she 
courtship, 
revealing 
:oni  all  in 
ich  Julius 
for  herself 
e  Lauhay 
n  received 
Julius  had 
youth  wa« 
kindness. 
This  trea- 
Their  in- 
frequent, 
macy  and 


UNA  LKTTEKA  ANONIMA.  14? 

ny.  Nei  suoi  lunghi  colloquil  ii  quattr'  occhi  ch"  nd- 
divvonnero  giornulicnM.  in  f|Uf'llo  ciarlc  i)r()lungate  la 
sera  presso  il  fu  ico.  clla  gli  narro  con  <iuai  mesczi 
avesse  cagionala  la  i-otUu-a  del  suo  niatrimonio  colla 
signora  de  Septuoil,  come;  s(!nza  die  alcuno  lo  sa- 
pesse,  cosa  glustihcata  dall'  intcnzione,  clla  aveva 
in  sua  mano  tutf  i  till  di  quell'  intrigo :  come  per 
mezzo  di  sospetti  ahilinente  insinuati  essa  avesse 
con  molta  accortezza  prenarata  la  contessa  a  quel  pri- 
nio  rifiuto,  come  nollo  stesso  tempo  essendo  ve- 
nu  a  a  conoscere  qualmente  la  signorina  di  Sep- 
tueil  senz'  amore  per  Giulio  ubhidisse  solo  alia 
inadre,  profittando  di  quel  momento  di  dispetto,  ella 
avesse  ctmsigliato  ad  im  antico  pretendente  di  ripre- 
sentam  di  bel  nuovo.  Di  confidenza  in  confidenza 
essa  giunse  a  svelargli  un  segreto  importante  che 
Hno  allora  avea  saputo  nascondere  a  tutti  aL  solo 
tine  di  non  aggiungere  i  propri  dolor i  a  quelli  che  giA, 
affliggevano  Giulio.  Essa  non  aveva  voluto  prender 
per  se  una  sola  delle  consolazloni  che  spettavano  a  lui, 
II  signor  de  Launay  era  morto  e  quell'  affliggente  no- 
tizia  era  stata  ricevuta  da  Adele  poco  prima  dell'  epo- 
ca  nella  quale  Giulio  si  era  creduto  tradito  nel  suo 
amore.  II  giovine  non  si  stancava  di  ammirare  quella 
bontA.  inesauribile  sempre  pronta  a  sagrificaioi  pegli 
altri.  Quel  tesoro  in  quel  momento  non  appartene- 
va  ad  alcuno.  Le  loro  conversazioni  addivenivano 
pill  luughe  e  pi{i  fi'<  quenti,  e  senza  che  avessero  per  ■ 


nhhi 


111 


148  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

pleasure,  were  sometimes  timid  and  embarrassing, 
both  for  him  and  for  her,  Fanny's  name  was  no 
longer  so  frequently  spoken,  and,  one  evening  Julius, 
holding  his  coiisin's  hands  and  iixing  on  her  glances 
which  troubled  her,  asked  her  if  she  would  finish  the 
work  begun,  and  reconcile  him  completely  to  life, 
granting  him  the  happiness  he  had  never  known. 

"  We  have  both  suffered,"  said  lie.  "  Married  to  a 
man  who  was  not  able  to  appreciate  you,  you  had 
patience  and  resignation ;  I,  on  the  contrary,  experi- 
enced violent  and  strong  passions.  To-day,  both 
free, — ^you  from  an  imposed  chain,  I  from  my  error, 
— ^we  feel  the  need  of  a  quiet  and  sincere  affection. 
Be  mine,  if  not  from  love  at  least  from  pity,  and  I 
will  be  grateful  to  you  for  it." 

Without  answer  on  her  part  two  months  later 
Adele  had  married  her  cousin. 

The  year  following  their  marriage  was  spent  in  the 
coimtry.  Mrs.  Valabert's  death  strengthened  these 
ties.  At  the  beginning  of  the  winter,  they  returned 
to  Paris.  Julius  resumed  his  occupation,  for  a  long 
time  interrupted,  and  searched  for  relief  from  those 
sorrows  of  which  the  stain  had  not  yet  disappeared, 
in  work  rather  than  in  the  pleasures  of  luxury  and  of 
the  world.  Saint-Gilles,  during  this  long  absence  of 
Julius,  had  resumed  his  old  habits.     He  rarely  called 


rrassing, 
)  was  no 
g  Julius, 
•  glances 
inish  the 
T  to'  life, 
3wn. 

ried  to  a 
you  had 
•,  experi- 
ly,  both 
ly  error, 
iflfection. 
y,  and  I 

ths   Inter 

nt  in  the 
ed  these 
returned 
)r  a  long 
tin  those 
ppeared, 
y  and  of 
)sence  of 
ily  called 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  1*^ 

duto  del  loro  dilett»  e  doUa  loro  intimifcV,  taluna  volta 
riescivano  timide  ed  imbarazzanti  tanto  per  1'  uno 
come  per  I'altra;  il  nome  di  Fanny  non  veniva  piii  pro- 
nunziato  cosi  spesso,  eduna  sera  Giulio  tenendo  fra  le 
8ue  le  mani  della  ougina,e  fissando  su  lei  ocohiate  che  la 
confondevano,le  domand6  se  volesse  compiere  1' opera 
incouiinciata  ed  affezionarlo  completamente  alia  vita 
accordandogii  quella  feUcit^  ch'  egli  ancora  non  aveva 

conosciuto. 

"Ambedueabbiamosofferto,"  le  disse,  "maritatu 
ad  un  uomo  che  non  sapeva  a^prezzarvi,  voi  aveste 
la  pazienza  e  la  rassegnazione.  lo,  invece,  provai  la 
passione  violenta,  e  furiosa.  Oggi  ambedue  liben,  voi 
da  una  catena  che  vi  fu  imposta.io  dai  miei  erron  sen- 
tiamo  il  bisogno  d'  un  aflfetto  8incero,tranquillo.  Siate 
mia,  se  non  per  amore  ahneno  per  piet^  ed  lo  ve  ne 
8ar6  riconoscente." 

{Senza  ch'  essa  rispondesse,   due  mesi  piii  tardi 
Adele  aveva  aposato  suo  cugino. 

L'  anno  sussequente  al  loro  matrimonio  venne  pas- 
sato  in  campagna.  La  morte  deUa  signora  Valabert. 
serr6  macrgiormente  i  vincoli  di  quests  nuovo  legame. 
Sul  coininoiare  dell'  inverno  ritornarono  a  Parigi. 
Giulio  riprese  le  sue  occupazioni  da  lungo  tempo  mter- 
rotte  e  nel  lavoro  piuttosto  che  nei  piaceri  del  hisso  e 
del  mondo  cerc6  una  continua  distrazione  a  quel  dis- 
piaceri  dei  quaU  latraccia  non  era  deltutto  scomparsa. 
Smnt-Gilles  nel  tempo  della  lunga  asaenza  di  Gmlio 


'  r-^r^-tr-TKQ^  n^MfttliibirifeiiirfMi 


^^^  AN  ANONYMOUS  LRTrKK. 

on  him,   and  oliediiMit  to  Allele's   •>i-Hy«iv,   ulwjiys 
avoided  speaking  of  the  pant. 

To  the  wnrli  which  had  usually  kept  Valabert  busy 
had  l)een  added  othei-s,  viz.:  the  pufting  in  order  of 
family  papers,  tiio  examination  of  tlu-  titles  of  suc- 
cession, tie  copying  of  letters  and  other  papei-s.  He 
had,  therefore,  given  ordei-s  to  search  for  an  hont^t 
and  reliable  man  to  whom  could  l)e  entrusted  a  little 
wink,  and  as  we  have  said  at  the  beginning  of  this 
chapter,  his  wife  had  announced  to  him  the  arrival  of 
that  man. 

To  the  question,  "  Uo  you  wish  to  receive  him  ?  " 
Valabert  had  answered  with  an  affirmative  nod. 

"Dear,"  addeil  his  wife,  "  would  you  permit  me  to 
remain  present  { " 

"Without  doubt;  but  what  inspires  you  with  this 
desire  'i      It  is  only  a  question  of  business,  of  <iphers 
and  document**,  and  in  all  probability  the  conversa 
tlon  will  be  exceedingly  wearisome." 

"I  spoke  for  a  moment  to  the  person  introduced  to 
you,  and,  if  1  do  not  mistjike,he  is  an  original,  full  of 
pleasant  fancies. " 

"Very  well;  judge  him  for  yourself.  Let  him 
come  in." 

An  old  man  presented  himself,  and  his  entrance  jus- 
tified the  words  of  Mrs.  Valabert.  Arrived  on  the 
threshold  of  the  room,  he  saluted  them  in  an  awkward 
way  and  with  an  exaggerated  politeness.     With  both 


UNA  T.KTTEUA  ANONIMA.  1^1 

nvoa  riprcso  le  suo  ahiludini;  liuauirnto  nndava  da 
lui  e  docile  alle  pioghicre  d'  Adele  evitava  serapre  di 
parlai-e  drl  passato. 

Ai  lavori  che  usualmente  occnpavano  il  signor  Va- 
labcrtsen'orano  aggiunti  altii,  n.ss(wti  di  faniiglia, 
osami  di  titoli  di  successionc,  copie  <li  lettcre  ed  altn 
documenti.  Egli  aveva  porcio  dato  online  che  gli 
venisse  cercato  un  uomo  oncsto  e  sicuro  al  quale  po- 
tesse  eesor  contidato  un  poeo  di  lavoro,  e  siccomo  di- 
cemmo  8ul  principio  di  qnosto  capitolo.  sua  moghe 
era  venuta  ad  annun/iargli  1'  arrivo  di  (lUoU'  uoino. 

Alia  doinanda  che  gli  era  stata  fntta.     "Vuoi  tu  n- 
ceverlo?"    Valabcrt  avea  risposto  con  un  affermativo 

cenno  del  capo. 

"  Caro,"  ripresc  sua  moglie,  "  vuoi  tu  permcttermi 

di  rimanere  presente  'i " 

"  Scnxa  dubbio,  ma  che  mai  pu^  far  nascere  in  te 
questo  desiderio  ?  Si  tratta  solo  di  affari,  cifre,  docu- 
ment! e  secondo  ogni  probability  la  conversazione  sa- 
ri\  delle  piii  monotone." 

"  Parlai  un  niomento  alia  persona  che  ti  h  stata  m- 
dirizzata,  e  se  non  fo  errore  dev'  essere  un  originale 
pieno  d'  innocenti  manie."  ^^ 

"  Benone,  giudicane  tu  stessa;  si  faccia  entrare. 
Un  vecchio  presentossi  e  la  sua  comparsa  giustific(^ 
le  previsioni  dclla  signora  Valabert.      Giunto  sulla 
soglia  della  porta  salute  in  una  maniera  goflfa  e.con 
esagerazione.     Colle  due  mani  avea  preso  un  vecchio 


-  rtBj)ftiAWi»»w*'*' 


nlMaiWCMttlii 


*^  AN  ANONVMOUS  LRTTER. 

hands  he  reinovod  un  old  Imt,  the  edges  of  which 
w«re  broken,  an  1  by  a  hasty  movement  of  his  liead 
in  bend.ufer  i,  t ,  the  knees,  he  had  catised  to  descend 
over  his  ford,o«d  the  torn  edge  of  a  dirty  silken  skull, 
cap.     As  If  this  ridiculous  salutation  were  not  enough, 
he  repeated  it  three  times  at  equal  intervals,  each  time 
advancing  two  steps,  and  without  perceiving  that  Mrs 
Valabert  and  her  husband  were  making  useless  eflbrt« 
to  restrain  their  laughter.     As  soon  as  the  poor  man 
had  ended  his  drills,  he  raised  himself  ,ip,  ciating 
around  timid  and  humble  glances.     Suddenly  his  face 

IZTi  Tk'T''!'  '  "^  astonishment,  and  he  stood 
before  Valabert  with  open  mouth  and  distended  eves 
Ade  e  examined  this  inexplicable  pantomime,  when 

exc,a"me"^^    "  '""^'^  "*""""«  ^  ^'^'S-^  ^--' 

"TernisienI" 

"Mr.  Valabert!"  answered  the  ex-professor.  "How  I 
you  have  had  the  kindness  to  remember  my  Z\ 
Have  you  not  entirely  forgotten  him  who  taught  you 
he  prmcip  es  of  an  art  which  is  now  spurned^md  of 
which  perhaps  I  am  the  last  representative?  The 
t.mes  .ere  very  ditlerent  when  I  used  to  come  to 
give  you  lessons  i„  St.  Honor^  street,   where  yoi^ 

you  last,  and  I  remember  you  always  because  you 
were  k.nd  and  affectionate  to  your  pmfessor  I  W 
pardon,  madam,  for  thus  speaking  i'n  your  present^ 


)f  which 
hi»  head 

descend 
en  sknlN 
enough, 
ach  time 
lat  Mrs. 
8  eflbrto 
jor  man 

casting 
his  face 
le  stood 
id  eyes. 
B,  when 
3  times, 


"Howl 
r  face? 
:ht  you 
and  of 
?  The 
mie  to 
a  your 

I  saw 
le  you 

I  beg 
isence, 


CNA  LRTTEKA  ANONIMA.  1*8 

cappollo  di  cui  gli  orli  eraiio  rotti  ed  il  rapido  movi- 
mcnlo  <ho  avcva  inipi<'H«o  alia  sua  testa  piegandola 
fino  ai  ginocohi  avcva  fatto  scciidcro  suUa  sua  fronte 
la  nappa  logora  di  uno  sporco  bcrrettino  di  seta  nera. 
Quasi  chc  (luel  ridicolo  saluto  non  fosse  sufticiente, 
egli  lo  ripetu  per  ben  tro  voito  ad  intervalli  eguali, 
ogni-voltaavanzando  due  passi  scnz' accorgcrei  che 
la  signora  Valabert  e  suo  mariU)  faccvano  sforzi  infi- 
niti  per  trattcncre  lo  visa.     Quando  il  povor'  uonio 
ebbe  finitw  i  suoi  csercizii,  si  drizzo  girando  intoruo 
timido  ed  umili  occhiate.     Di  botto  perC)  la  sua  lisio- 
nomiu  prcnc  un"  espressione  di  soi-presa  e  ristctte  da- 
vanti    Valabi^rt  coUa  bocca  spalancata  e  gli  occhi 
aperti.     Adele  esaininava  quest'  inesplicabiie  panto- 
mima,  allorche   il  pcnsicro  di  suo  marito  risalendo  a 
tenii)i  assai  lontani : 
«'  Ternisicn  ! "  e9clam6. 

"11  signor  Valabert!"  rispose  1'  ex pi-ofessore. 
*'  Come !  Avete  avuto  la  bonbV  di  raffigurarmi !  Non 
avete  interamento  dimenticato  colui  che  v'  insegn6  i 
principii  di  un'  arte  che  oggi  vien  disprozzata,  e  della 
quale  forse  sono  1'  ultimo  rappreseiitante?  Era  ben 
differente  il  tempo  in  cui  io  venivaadarvi  lezioninella 
via  Sant'  Onorato,  nella  casa  abitata  dal  vostro  signor 
padre.  Sono  ormai  dieciotto  anni  e  sempre  mi  sov- 
vcnni  di  voi,  p.'iche  eravate  buoi.o  ed  affezionato 
vei-so  il  vostro  prot'essore.  Vi  domandoscusa,  si.^noru, 
»e  parlo  cos\,  in  vostra  presenza,  invece  di  aspettare 


■  ifiitiiiaWir 


MJHiCiiiilrilliiiW'i 


■i-a'mi* 


^**  AN  ANO^rMOtT8  LKTTKR. 

instead  of  waiting  the  ptn-mission  of  your  hushnnd, 
hut  thinking  of  that  time,  I  seem  to  hccomc  younger. 
Loolt  here,  madam,  you  nniHt  not  pay  attention  to 
my  dre,48.     This  morning,  in  order  to  come  to  you,  I 
have  brushed  and  darned  these  rags  as  best  I  could, 
but  they,  I  know  very  well,  are  old  and  in  bad  shape. 
On  entering  I  felt  ashamed,  and  if  you  had  not  ham 
present,  I  am  almost  sure  your  servants  would  have 
thrown  nio  out  like  a  b(^ggar.     Then  1  became  con- 
tused and  made  very  humble  salutations  that  I  might 
be  forgiven  my  presence  and  intrusion  in  these  rich, 
splendid  apartments.       Once  I,  too,  knew  how  to 
present  myself  properly,  madam,  and  I  have  punished 
many  young  ladies,  rich  and  beautiful  like  yourself." 
Adele  ^<niIed  kindly,  which  finally  put  Ternisien  at 
his  ease. 

"Truly,"  replied  Julius,  "I  am  happy  and  glad  to 
meet  you  again." 

'  *  And  I,  too, "  answered  Ternisien.  ' '  Well,  I  can 
see  you  are  not  changed  ;  always  good  and  without 
pnde.  As  you  take  away  all  my  embarrassment, 
I  shall  ask  permission  to  sit  near  the  fire  while  you 
explain  how  I  may  serve  you.  It  is  long  since  I  have 
seen  a  fire  in  my  room,  excepting  the  blaze  of  the 
candle,  and  that  only  when,  on  account  of  economy, 
I  do  not  go  to  bed  at  twilight." 

So  saying  Ternisien  took  a  chair  and  seating  him- 
self without  ceremony,  totally  forgetful  of  manners, 


husband, 
younger, 
ention  to 
to  you,  I 
1 1  could, 
lid  Hhiipe. 
not  b(>(!n 
uld  havo 
anie  con- 
1 1  might 
ipse  rich, 
how  to 
punished 
ourself. " 
■nisien  at 

glad  to 

ill,  I  can 
without 
»«8ment, 
hile  you 
e  I  have 
3  of  the 
conomy, 

ng  him- 
lanners, 


UNA  I.KTTKUA  ANONIMA.  155 

^  ordini  del  vostro  signor  sposo,  mu  pcnnfindo  a  quel 
tempo  mi  Hcnto  ringloviniiv.     VihIpIc.  signora,  non 
birtognii  por  nu'uto  allii  manicru  con  cui  vado  vcHtito. 
Questa  niattiiia,  por  venire  da  voi  h()  spu/zolato  e  i)U- 
lito  pill  che  potci  «iu('«ti  ccnci,  nm  il  tutto,  lo  so  bene,  h 
molto  vecchio  I'd  in  pcHslnu)  Htato.    Entrantlo  provavu 
vergogna,  e  we  non  vi  trovavato  lt\  proHontc,  i  vostri 
Bcrvitori  mi  avn^bbero  caiciato  via  al  ptui  di  un  accat- 
tono.     AUora  mi  sono  confuso,  ho  fatto  degl'  inchini 
vili,  vilissimi,  peiclic  mi  vonii^se  perdonata  la  proaonza 
o  I'intrusionc  in  quonti  ricchi  e  splendid!  aijpartamenti. 
In  aUri  tempi,  io  pure  sapeva  presentanni  convene- 
volmente,o  8ignora,ed  ho  sgridato  e  posto  in  penitenza 
signorine  belle  e  ricche  al  par  di  voi." 

A  dele  sorriae  con  una  tal'  aria  di  bont^  che  fin\  di 
riassicurare  Ternisicn. 

"In  verittV,  riprese  Giulio,  sono  felice  e  contento  di 
ritrovarvi." 

"  Ed  io  pure, "  rispose  questi.  "Via,  non  siete cam- 
biato;  sempre  buono  e  senza  fjuperbia.  Giacche  mi 
togliete  la  soggezione,  mentre  mi  spiegheiete  in  che 
cosa  possa  servirvi,  vi  domandero  il  permessodi  seder- 
mi  presso  il  fuoco.  Da  tanto  tempo  in  casa  mia  non  ho 
visto  altro  fuoco  che  quello  della  candela  seppuro  per 
cagion  d'  ecouomia  non  mi  vado  a  uorituro  auU'  im- 

brunire." 

E  nel  cosi  purlare,  Ternisien  presa  una  sedia,  e  sedu- 
tovisi  senza  cerimonie  intieramente  dimentico  dell'  eti- 


-  ^fpfJ'-i^^^llitfflif ""■■<"' "^■--^fe-'-  -"  '-^'"-"  ■'  '^■-'"-'^  ^■^,:,^j/i^^. 


aHHiWiaMIHHi 


156  A^  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

extended  his  feet  on  the  fender,  while,  with  his  two 
elbows  resting  on  his  knees,  he  stretched  out  his 
meagre  and  wrinkled  hands  toward  the  tire. 

Julius  Valabert,  who  found  his  professor  as  he  had 
left  him,  simple  and  full  of  kindness,  was  gazing  at 
him  with  true  pleasure. 

"  Poor  Ternisien  !"  he  said  to  him.  "I  see  that  you 
have  not  been  happy,  but  as  you  remember  me,  why 
have  you  not  called  on  me  i  lu  every  case,  you  would 
have  been  kindly  received." 

"Yes,  perhaps  I  was  wrong;  but  you,  used  to 
riches,  know  only  one  side  of  almsgiving.  To  give, 
Avhen  one  wishes  it  and  aftbrds  it,  is  very  easy,  but 
to  ask  is  more  difficult." 

"After  all,  I  thank  chance  that  has  at  last  united 
us  again.  Here  is  some  work  for  a  few  weeks,  and  I 
hope  you  will  not  refuse  that  1  shall  fix  the  price 
myself." 

"We  will  fix  it  together.  The  little  talent  which 
I  have  is  completely  at  your  disposal.*' 

"You,  perhaps,  live  ne:u-  h(^re,  as  I  had  ordered 
that  before  locking  elsewhere  they  should  search  in 
our  ward." 

"  Yes,  I  live  in  a  little  room  at  No.  4  Furstemberg 
street." 

Tei-nisien  did  not  perceive  the  profound  impression 
his  answer  produced  on  Julius  and  his  wife.  A  pause 
of  a  few  minutes  followed,  taking  advantage  of  which 


^i  iJA:..£„.iiiSjaHft»sijr.„":- . 


with  his  two 

jhed   out  hiti 

[ire. 

sor  as  he  had 

i^as  gazing  at 

see  that  you 
ber  me,  why 
e,  you  would 

'ou,  used  to 
?.  To  give, 
vy  easy,   but 

t  last  united 
weeks,  and  I 
ix  the  price 

talent  which 

lad  ordered 
Id  search  in 

i'urstemberg 

I  impression 
3.  A  pause 
ge  of  which 


UNA  LEITEKA  ANONIMA.  157 

chetta  allungo  i  picdi  sugli  alari,  mentre  che  coi  due 
gomiti  appoggiati  suUe  ginocchia  avvicino  al  fuoco  le 
sue  scarne  mani. 

Giulio  Valabert  che  ritrovava  il  suo  professore 
quale  lo  aveva  lasciato  semplice  e  pieno  di  bonomiu, 
r  osservava  con  vero  piacere. 

"Mio  povero  Ternisien,"  gli  disse,  "  vedo  bene  che 
non  siete  stato  felice.  Ma,  poiche  vi  ricordavate  di 
me  perchfe  non  siete  venuto  a  trovarmi  ?  In  ogni 
modo  sareste  stato  sempre  ben  ricevuto." 

"Si,  forse  ho  avuto  torto.  Ma  voi  uso  alia  ri- 
chezza  conoscete  un  lato  solo  dell'  eleniosina.  II  dare 
quando  si  vuole  e  quando  si  pu6,  e  cosa  facile;  il  do- 
mandare  pero  h  cosa  molto  piu  malagevole." 

"  In  somma  ringrazio  1'  azzardo  che  ci  ha  riuniti. 
Ecco  del  lavoro  per  qualche  settimana,  e  spero  non 
ritiutei'ete  di  farvene  fissare  il  prezzo  da  me." 

"Lo  fisseremo  insieme.  II  poco  talento  che  mi 
rimane  h  completaniente  a  vostra  disposizione. " 

*' Abitate,  forse,  qui  vicino,  giacche  prima  che  ne- 
gli  altri  quartieri  aveva  ordinato  si  facesse  ricerca  qui 
nel  proprio." 

"  Si,  occupo  una  cameretta  al  numero  quattro  della 
via  Farstemberg." 

Ternisien  non  die  mente  alia  profonda  impressione 
che  la  sua  risposta  aveva  prodctto  su  Giulio  e  la  sua 
consorte.  Ne  successe  un  breve  silenzio  di  pochi  mi- 
nuti  profittando  dei  quali  Valabei't  ed  Adele  su  cui  que- 


158  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETl'EK. 

ValaT>ert  and  Adele,  in  whom  these  words  had  awak- 
ened the  same  remembrances,  exchanged  between 
themselves  furtive  glances. 

"Let  us  see,  Mr.  Julius,  how  I  can  serve  you." 
Valabert  placed  before  the  eyes  of  Ternisien  a  file 
of  papers  which  were  to  be  copied.  Having  agreed 
upon  the  price,  Ternisien  was  ready  to  depart,  but 
Julius  detained  him.  He  feared  to  question  him, 
and  at  the  same  time  he  wished  that  he  would  speak. 
Those  two  words,  "  Furstembei-g  street,"  resounded 
in  his  ears.  If  his  wife  had  been  absent,  he  would 
have  directly  questioned  his  old  professor,  who,  lodg- 
ing in  the  same  house  where  he  had  ceased  to  go, 
would  perhaps  have  been  able  to  explain  what  to  him 
had  remained  &  mystery.  The  presence  of  Adele, 
who  seemed  very  little  disposed  to  leave,  obliged 
Jidius  to  take  a  round-about  turn  of  words. 

"What  have  you  followed  during  the  last  few 
years  T' 

"A  trade  which  did  not  suit  me,"  answered  Terni- 
sien. "I  had  lost  my  professorship  at  the  Univer- 
sity, my  pupils  had  left  me,  although  I  was  still  capa- 
ble of  teaching.  Certainly  my  hand  wjis  heavier,  but 
the  principles,  you  know  well,  were  good,  and  expe- 
rience supplies  the  lack  of  the  happy  li/eliness  of 
youth.  However,  all  this  was  of  no  use ;  I  was  oblige  d 
to  resign  and  become  a  public  writer.  For  some  years 
I  worked  dissatisfied  with  my  vocation.     Often  1  had 


4l|»!i||.i'!«Hl,niJ 


3  had  awak- 
3d   between 

ve  you." 
nisien  a  file 
rmfy  ai^reed 
depart,  but 
estion  him, 
ould  speak. 
'  resounded 
;,  he  would 
,  who,  lodg- 
>sed  to  go, 
k'hat  to  him 
»  of  Adele, 
ve,  obliged 

le  last  few 

ered  Terni- 
he  Univer- 
s  still  capa- 
icavier,  but 
,  and  expe- 
'/eliness  of 
^as  oblige  d 
some  years 
)ften  1  had 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  169 

ste  parole  avevano  risvegliato  gli  stessi  ricordi,  vicen- 
devohnent«  si  scambiarono  una  furtiva  occhiata. 

"  Vediamo,"  signor  Giulio,  "in  che  posso  8ervir\'i? 

Valabert  pose  sotto  gli  occlvi  di  Ternisien  una  filza 
di  carte  che  dovevano  essere  copiate.  Convenuti  del 
prezzo  Ternisien  gik  stava  per  ritirarsi,  ma  Giulio  lo 
trattenue.  Temeva  d'  interrogarlo  ed  al  tempo  stesso 
desiderava  ch'  ei  parlasse.  Quoste  due  pai-ole  via  Fur- 
stemherff,  risuonavano  nelle  sue  orecchie.  Se  sua 
moglie  fosse  !?tata  assente,  egli  avrebbe  direttamente 
interrogate  il  suo  antico  profossore,  il  quale  alloggiato 
nella  stessa  casa  dov'  egli  aveva  cessato  di  recarsi 
avrebbe  potuto  i)alesurgli  quanto  per  lui  era  rimasto 
un  mistero.  La  presenza  di  Adele  la  quale  sembrava 
poco  disposta  a  lasciarlo,  lo  costrinse  ad  iiupieg  tre  un 
lungo  giro  di  parole. 

"Che  cosa  avete  fatto  nello  spazio  di  questi  ultimi 
anni  i" 

"Un  mestiere  che  non  mi  conveniva,"  lispose 
Ternisien.  "Aveva  perduto  il  mio  posto  di  professore 
neir  universitfi.  i  miei  scolari  mi  avevano  lasciato 
quantunque  fossi  ancora  adatto  all'  insegnamento, 
per  cei-to  la  mano  era  meno  leggera,  ma  i  principii, 
voi  ben  lo  sapete.  erano  eccellenti  e  1'  esperienza  rim- 
piazza  la  felice  vivacita  della  gioventu.  Tutto  cio  non 
servi  a  molto,abbisogn6  rassegnai-si  e  mi  feci  pubblico 
scrivano.  Per  alcuni  anni  lavorai  malcontento  del 
luio  destino  e  del  mio  nuovo  mestiere.     Spesso  avea 


[  I 


160  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

had  the  intention  to  give  it  up.  A  circumstance 
which,  in  spite  of  myself,  poisoned  my  conscience : 
a  letter  that  I  had  the  weakness  to  copy  for  a  miser- 
able recompense,  decided  me." 

"A  letter?"  asked  Julius,  with  indifference. 
"Yes,  an  anonymous  letter  which  contained  very 
heavy  accusations.  First  of  all,  you  must  know  th/it 
I  ahvays  nourished  a  profound  contempt  for  all  denun- 
ciations of  that  kind  which  one  has  not  the  courage  to 
sign,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  truth  ought  not  to  have 
any  fear  of  expressing  itself  operJy.  Is  not  this  your 
opinion  also,  Mr.  Julius  ? " 

"Yes,"  answered  he,  who,  entirely  absorbed  in 
Temisien'a  narration,  no  longer  observed  his  wife,  and 
continued : 

"How  could  that  letter  have  made  such  an  impres- 
sion on  your  mind  as  to  put  in  execution  such  a 
resolve  ? " 

"Because  that  letter  might  compromise  very  much 
and  perhaps  even  kill  an  innocent  person  as  well 
as  it  denounced  a  great  perfidy." 

"Why,  then,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Valabert,  who 
upon  the  face  of  her  husba,nd  htid  guessed  what  kind 
of  feelings  he  was  endeavoring  to  conceal,  "why  did 
you  not  accept  the  second  supposition,  which  was  an 
probable  as  the  first  one  ? " 

Ternisien  raised  his  eyes  to  the  sky  and  heaved  a 
deep  sigh. 


•cumstance 
onscience : 
or  a  miscr- 

nce. 

lined  very 
know  that 
all  denun- 
courage  to 
lOt  to  have 
t  this  your 

sorbed  in 
i  wife,  and 

m  impres- 
3n  such  a 

ery  much 
I  aa  well, 

Jert,  who 
ivhat  kind 
'  why  did 
oh  was  as 

heaved  a 


w-''"i'i^^i."  Wij..._ 


tTNA  LETTEBA  ANONIMA. 


161 


avuto  I'idea  di  abbandonarlo.  Una  circo8tanza,che  mio 
malgrado,  attossicava  la  mia  coscienza,  una  lettei*a  che 
aveva  avuto  la  debolezza  di  copiare  per  una  misera- 
bile  liieicede  finl  per  decidermivi. " 

"  Una  lettera  ?"  domando  Giulio  con  indifferenza. 

"Si,  una  lettera  anouima  che  conteneva  accuse  gra- 
vissime.  Anzitutto  h  bene  che  sappiate  come  ho 
sempre  nutrito  il  piti  profondo  disprezzo  per  tutte  le 
denunzie  di  questo  genere  che  non  si  ha  il  coraggio  di 
firmare  e  mi  sembra  che  la  veritA  non  debba  temere 
di  esprimei-si  eziandio  a  viso  scoperto.  Non  h  questa 
pure  la  vostra  opinione,  signor  Giulio  ? " 

"  Si,"  rispose  questi,  che  assorto  intieramente  nel 
racconto  di  Ternisien  non  osservava  piu  sua  moglie,  e 
ehe  riprese : 

"  Come  questa  lettera  aveva  potuto  impressionare  il 
vostro  spirito  in  siifatta  maniera  da  decidervi  a  pren- 
dere  una  simile  risoluzione  ?  " 

"Perche  quella  lettera  poteva  compromettere  mol- 
tissimo  e  fors'  anche  uccidere  una  pei-sona  innocente; 
come  del  pari  poteva  avvertirne  un'  altra,  smasche- 
rando  la  pivi  nera  perfidia," 

'♦Perch^  dunque,"  int3rruppe  la  signora  Valabert, 
che  sul  volto  del  raarito  indovinava  i  sentimenti  ch'  egli 
sforzavasi  di  nascondere,  "perche  non  accoglieste  que- 
sta seconda  ipotf  u  tanto  probabile  quanto  la  prima  'i " 

Ternisien  alzo  gli  occhi  al  cielo,ed  emise  un  pro- 
fondo sospiro. 


Il'" 


w 


?•■■ 

'    ■■T 


^^2  AN  ANONYMOUS  LKTTEK. 

"You  are  right,  madam,  then  I  could,  but  to- 
day  " 

"To-day  ? "  repeated  Julius. 

' '  I  cannot  any  more.  My  fear  was  a  presentiment. 
Alas!  it  was  soon  resized  in  the  most  painful  and 
cruel  manner." 

"Of  whom  did  that  letter  speak  ? " 

"Of  a  young  lady." 

"And  to  whom  was  it  addressed  ? " 

"  I  was  never  able  to  loarn.     The  boy  who  brought 
the  letter  to  be  copied  had  ordei-s  to  have  the  address 
written  by  another  hand,  and  was  unwilling  to  t«ll 
me  whether  he  had  received  these  ordei-s  fi-om  a  gen- 
tleman or  a  lady.     Such  a  great  loystery  troubled  me. 
This  was  not  the  first  time  that  I  had  felt  scruples 
about  lettei-s  of  that  sort,  but  they  had  never  made 
such  an  impression  upon  me,  and  I  reproached  my- 
self continually  with  an  action  so  simple  and  ^natural 
belonging  to  my  vocation,  as  if  I  had  committed  a 
cnme.     At  that  time  they  were  making  objections  to 
my  remaining  any  longer  in  the  court  of  the  Holy 
Chapel.     I  left  the  shop  and  rented,  at  No.  4  Fu^^t- 
emberg  street,  a  little  room  vacated  by  an  old  woman. 
The  first  two  nighte  passed  in  this,  my  new  lodging, 
were  calm  and  silent,  but  in  the  midst  of  the  third 
one  I  ^aa  awakened  by  sighs  and  smothered  moans, 
and  from  time  to  time  by  distressful  cries,  the  effects 
of  pain.     The  following  day  it  was  said  to  me  that 


i,  but  to- 


jentiment. 
liuful  and 


0  brouffht 
e  address 
ig  to  tell 
)m  a  gen- 
ibled  me. 

scruples 
t^er  made 
5hed  my- 
i.jiatural 
initted  a 
ictions  to 
he  Holy 
4  Fuj-st- 
woman. 
lodging, 
he  third 

1  moans, 
le  effecls 
me  that 


UNA  LETTEBA  ANONIMA.  163 

"  Siete  nel  vero,  signora,  alloi?  lo  poteva,  per6 
oggi...." 

'Oggi?"  ripetfeGiulio. 

"Nol  pos.o  pill.  II  mio  timore  era  un  presenti- 
mento,  Ahime  \  presto  questo  si  realizzo  nella  piu 
penosa  e  crudele  manicra. " 

"Di  chi  dunque  parlava  qiiella  letteral" 

*'Di  una  giovinetta." 

"  Ed  a  chi  era  diretta  ? " 

*'  Non  ho  mai  potiito  saperlo.  II  ragazzo  che  porto 
la  lettera  per  farla  copiare  aveva  ordlne  di  far  scrivere 
da  altri  1'  indirizzo,  e  nomnieno  voile  dirmi,  so  avesse 
ricevuto  questi  ordini  da  un  uomo,ovvero  da  una  don- 
na. Un  cosi  gran  mistero  m'  inquietava.  Non  era  giA, 
la  prima  voltache  scrupoli  di  tal  sorta  intorno  a  lettere 
di  simile  natura  mi  avessero  tormentato,  ma  mai  mi 
avevano  impressionato  si  fattamente  e  sempre  mi  rim- 
proverava  quell'  Jitto  cos\  semplice  e  cosi  naturale  della 
mia  professione,  quasi  avessi  commessa  una  mal'azi^ne. 
In  quel  tempo  appunto  mi  si  facevano  pbiezioni  per 
lasciarmi  piii  a  lungo  nella  corte  della  Santa  Cappella. 
Abbandonai  la  mia  bottega  ed  aflSttai  al  numero  quat- 
tro  della  via  Furstemberg  una  cameretta  lasciata  da 
una  vecchia.  Lo  due  prime  notti  passate  in  quosto 
mio  nuovo  alloggio  furono  calme  e  silenziose,  ma  ncl 
bel  mezzo  della  terza  fui  svegliato  da  gemiti,  da  la- 
menti  soffocati  e  di  tratto  in  tratto  da  forti  grida  strap- 
pate  al  dolore.     L'  indomani  mi  venne  detto  che  1'  ap- 


11  'ii 


'^*  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEB. 

the  little  apartment  near  the  room  I  occupied  was  in- 
babited  by  a  young  lady  at  the  point  of  death. 

"A  few  days  had  passed  when  one  day,  retuminff 
home  at  about  three  o'clock,  I  was  surprised  to  sec  the 
dooi^  of  the  said  apartment  wide  open.  I  looked  int» 
the  first  room, -nobody  was  there,-no  one  in  the 
second, -everywhere  the  same  dreadful  silence.  I 
entered  the  last  room,  and  there,  lying  insensible  on 
her  bed,  1  saw  a  young  woman  whose  features,  al- 
though altered  by  protracted  illness,  showed  that  she 
must  have  been  beautiful  when  she  was  happy. 

"1  followed  the  first  impulse  of  pity.     I  replaced 
on  the  pillow  the  head  whi(!h  hung  oflT  the  bed     I 
caused  her  to  inhale  from  a  smelling  bottle  which  I 
found  on  the  mantel  and  tried  to  restore  her  to  con- 
sciousness.    When  she  opened  her  eyes,  ashamed  to 
be  alone  m  a  room  with  a  young  woman,  I  apolo- 
gized and  hurriedly  retired.     The  poller,  whom  I 
questioned,  told  me  that  on  the  same  day  her  servant 
had  left  her.      Without  inquiring  what  were  her 
means,  I  ran  for  and  brought  with  me  a  nurse  to 
watch  over  her.     Happily,  there  was  some  gold  in 
her  house.     Miss  Fanny  Dusmenil  was  her  name;  I 
had  forgotten  to  mention  it  before." 

At  these  words  Julius  rose.     Ternisien,  interrupt- 
ing his  nan-ative,  saw  him,  pale,  subdued,  and  his  fa<je 


led  was  in- 
nth. 

returning 
I  to  sec  the 
ooked  into 
)ne  in  the 
lilence.  I 
ensible  on 
itures,  al- 
1  that  she 

py- 

[  replaced 
i  bed.     1 
I  which  I 
?r  to  con- 
lamed  to 
I  apolo- 
whom  I 
r  servant 
vere  her 
nurse  to 
gold  in 
iijuue;  I 

iterrupts 
his  face 


UNA  LETTEIU  ANONIMA.  1^5 

partamento  attiguo  ulla  stanza  da  me  occupata  era 
abituto  da  una  giovin  donna  ohe  trovavasi  in  pericolo 
di  morte. 

Erano  trascoi-ai  varii  gionii,  quando  un  d\  vien- 
trando  ti  casa  verso  le  tre  dopopranzo  fui  sorpreso  dal 
vedere  'a  porta  dell'  anzidetto  appartamento  tutta  spa- 
lancata.  Guardai  nella  prima  camera,  non  v'  era  al- 
cuno,  nessuno  nella  seconda,  dapertutto  lo  stesso  spa- 
ventoso  silenzio.  Penctrai  cos\  nell'  ultima  stanza,  e 
\k  svenuta  sul  letto  vidi  una  signorina  di  cui  le  fattezze, 
abbenche  alterate  da  lunganialattia  mostravano  ancora 
aver  dovuto  essere  bellissime  quand'  essa  era  felice. 

Detti  retta  al  mio  primo  movimento  di  pietA.  Ri- 
poai  sul  guanciale  la  testa  che  penzolava  fuori  dal 
letto,  le  feci  respirare  una  bottiglia  che  trovai  sul  cam- 
minetto  e  cercai  di  rianimarla.  Allorquando  ella  apr\ 
gli  occhi,  mi  vergognai  di  trovarmi  cos\  da  solo  a  solo 
con  una  giovine,  le  presentai  le  mie  scuse  e  mi  ritirai 
precipitosamente.  La  portinaia  da  me  interrogata, 
mi  disse,  che  lo  stesso  giomo  la  sua  serva  1'  avea  ab- 
bandonata.  Senz'  informarmi  quali  potessero  essere 
le  sue  risoi-se  corsi  a  cercare  e  meco  condussi  un'  assi- 
stente  per  vegliare  ai  suoi  bisogni.  Fortunatamente 
in  casa  vi  era  dcU'  oro.  La  signorina  Funny  Dusme- 
uil,  che  COS!  essa  si  chiamava,  mi  era  dimenticato  di 
dirvelo " 

A  questi  detti  Giulio  si  alz6.  Temisien  interrom- 
pendo  il  suo  racconto,  lo  vide  pallido,  abbattuto  e  col 


.^j 


^^^  AN  ANONYMOUS  LBTTKR. 

wet  with  tears.    Jnliu«  turned  toward  his  wife,  and  see- 
ing her  trembling  with  ii  profound  gi-ief  pictured  in 
her  face,  going  neur  to  her,  took  her  hand,  saying  : 
"  Adolo.  my  tears,  which  were  flowing  without  ray 
'-^'v  will,  are  an  offense  to  you.     Please  retire  into 
your  own  apartments,  1  entreat  you,  and  forgive  me." 
Siie  lowered  her  head  and  went  away,  saying  in  a 
low  voico,  but  with  an  energetic  tone  of  despair : 
"  Well,  I  know  that  you  yet  love  her." 
Tcrnisien   h;i  1   risen  comnletely  confounded,  and 
when,  after  the  scene  which   had   taken   place,  ho 
found  himself  alone  with    'ulius,  he  no  longer  knew 
whether  he  ought  to  remain  silent  or  to  continue. 
Valabert,  now  free  from  restraint,  came  to  him  and 
inquired : 

"Is  she  dead?     Is  it  true?" 

"Yes." 

"Andher  ohild'r' 

"Dead  ;iLio,  bi  foro  the  mother.      But  how  do  you 
kriOTi  i " 

' I  know;  whit  matters  the  rest  to  you  {     Anil  tell 
me,  was  she  calumniated  'i  " 

"Yes." 

"Who  told  you?" 

"Herself,  and  then  I  have  other  irrefutjible  proof  " 
"What is  it r'  * 

' '  Listen.    Often,  in  day  time,  I  used  to  inquire  about 
her  health.     Her  agon    lasted  long  and  I  had  time  to 


■a 


TV, 


fc,  and  see- 
)ictured  in 
1,  saying  : 
'ithoiit  ray 
I'etire  into 
•give  me." 
tying  in  u 
pair : 

uled,  and 
place,  he 
ger  knew 
continue, 
liini  and 


i^do  you 
And  tell 

•■  proof." 

re  about 
1  time  tu 


UNA  LETTKRA  ANON  IMA.  1^7 

viso  inondato  Ui  lagrinie.  (iiiilio  m  voIjsp  verso  lii  Mia 
consorte  e  Bcorgendolii  tromante,  con  an  prot'ondo  do- 
lore  dipinto  8ul  volto,  avvlcinnt()s(<le  le  prese  la  inimo 
dicendole : 

"  Adele,  il  pianto  che  irrompe  senza  la  mia  volontA 
h  nn'  offcsti  per  voi.     Ebcite,  ritiratevi,  ve  ne  pre<r'   "^ 

EsHa  chino  il  capo  esottovoce  ma  coU'  onorgia  d  ll.-^ 
disperazione,  riprese : 

"Ben  io  sapeva  che  r  aniavato  ancora." 

Ternisien  wi  era  alzato  tntto  intcrdctto  ed  allmvlife 
dopo  la  scena  che  avova  avnto  luogo,  si  trovo  solo  a 
solo  con  Giidio.piu  non  sapeva  se  dovesse  taccro  o  con- 
tinnare  la  naiiativa.     Valabert  oruiai  libero  vcnne  u 

lui,  e : 

"Essa  h,  mortn.  non  h  veroi " 

"Si." 

"Edilfiglio?" 

"  Pure,  aiorto  prima  dclla  niach-o;  ma  come  sapete?" 

"Lo  80,  che  t'  importtt  11  restoT'  E  dimmi,  en 
esso  stata  calunniata  ? " 

"Si." 

"Chiteldisse?" 

"  Ella  stessa  e  ne  posseggo  altres^  un'altra  irrecusa 
bile  prova." 

"Quale?" 

"  Ascoltatemi.  Spesse  volte  nel  corao  del  d\  m'  in- 
foi-mava  della  sua  salute.  La  sua  agonia  fu  lunga, 
ed  ebbi  il  tempo  di  cattivarmi  la  sua  fiducia.      Io  pas 


••/I 


IfiS  AN  ANONYMOIIH  LK1TKK. 

win  her  fonriik'ncn.     1  uhocI  to  pass  diiys  and  nights 
nt  hor  bodsido,  and  I  cared  for  her  as  if  I  had  been 
her  father.     She  narrated  to  me  Iier  story.     She  told 
me  how,  on  the  day  preceding  her  marriage,  her  lover 
had  come  like  a  raging  maniac;  how,  crediting  an 
anonymous  letter,  he  had  accused  her.     Fancy  my 
surprise  and  consternation  when,  handing  me  that 
letter,  1  recognized  the  one  I  had  copied.     She  swore 
that  notwithstaniling   appearances  which  seemed  to 
condemn  hor,  she  was  innocent;  and  I,  who  had  a 
wrong  to  repair,  hastened  to  ask  the  name  of  him  who 
had  been  deceived  by  such  an  infamous  denunciation, 
and  who  would  probably  have  time  to  acknowledge 
and  repair  his  fault.     She  obstinately  refused  to  tell 
it.     'Iwish,'  she  said,   'that  this  fearful  misfortune 
might  have  been  delayed  a  few  months,  that  my  child 
could  have  been  born  i-Uve,  o  )d  then  I  would  have 
decided  myself  to  beg  k,  v  his      aalf  the  pity  of  the 
father;  but  now  I  am    done  and  near  to  death,  of 
what  use  will  it  be  t      importune  him  'i    Although  for 
me,  who  loved  him  so  much,  his  forgetfulness  may  be 
painful,  I  prefer  to  let  him  forget,  rather  than  perhaps 
to  awaken  in  him  a  useless  remorse  by  letting  him 
know  how  I  am  dying.'    Her  strength  visibly  left 
her.     One  evening,  the  nurse  and  1  were  at  her  bed- 
side awaiting  the  fatal  moment.     For  more  than  an 
hour  she  had  not  spoken.     I  have  always  retained  the 
minutest  details  of  that  last  evening,  and  a  conuuon 


m 


and  nights 
L  had  been 
She  told 
c,  hor  lover 
•editing  an 
Fancy  my 
?  nie  that 
She  Bworo 
seemed  to 
vho  had  a 
f  him  who 
luneiation, 
inowledge 
Hed  to  tell 
nisfortune 
t  my  child 
[>uld  have 
ity  of  the 

death,  of 
hough  for 
'88  may  bo 
n  perhaps 
tting  him 
8ibly  left 
;  her  bed- 
8  than  an 
ained  the 

common 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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V 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


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tJNA  T.ETTERA  ANOXrvfA.  TO 

biato  un  addio  ainichevt)le  quantunque  piono  di  di- 
gnity, allorche  1'  arrlvo  di  due  nuove  persone  ritardcN 
di  qnalclie  niinnto  In  loro  separaziono.  L'  uno  dei  due 
venuti  era  un  <jentilu->ino.sui  quaranta  ai  quavantacin- 
que  anni  di  eta  con  viso  aperto  annunziante  la  piii  fio- 
rida  salute  e  la  totale  assenza  di  qualunque  siasi  in- 
terno  disi)iaeere.  II  suo  niodo  di  agire  era  quello  di 
un  uomo  abituato  a  viv(!re  ncl  gran  raondo,  quantun- 
que privo  di  gia/ia.di  eleganza e  di  di-stinzione.  I  suoi 
occhi  grigi  al  livello  della  testa  esprimevano  un  per- 
pctuo  contento.  Aveva  senipre  il  naso  al  vento  al  pari 
di  coloro  che  superbi  di  loro  stessi  credono  di  produrre 
suirli  altri  la  stessa  deliziosa  e  favorevole  iuipressione 
cbe  sono  soliti  di  esperimentare  allorche  si  riniirano  in 
uno  specchio.  II  signor  Saint-Gilles  aveva  abbando- 
nato  il  servizio  militare  all'  epoca  della  secouda  risto- 
razione,  si  era  slanciato  nellc  speculazioni,  ed  al  pai'i 
di  tanti  altri  vi  era  riescito  senza  rendersi  conto  di 
quanto  facesse.  L'  azzardo  lo  aveva  arricchito  e  la 
ricchezza  lo  ingrassava. 

L'  altra  persona  che  lo  accompagnava  era  una  donna 
tuttavia  giovine  che  poteva  avei-e  ventisei  anni  di  etd, 
e  che  non  ne  diniostrava  piu,  ne  nieno.  I  suoi  linea- 
menti  avevano  conservato  la  liuezza  e  la  fresehezza 
della  gioventu,  il  suo  sorriso  era  incantatore,  tutti  i 
suoi  movinienti  erano  calini,  soavi,  simmetrici.  La 
sua  bellezza  non  ei-a  di  quelle  che  colinscono  a  colpo 
d'  occhio,ma  piuttosto  delle  altre  che  s'  iutiltrano  poco 


■•I 


76  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

little  by  little  and  engraves  itself  on  the  heart,  and 
which,  though  scarcely  exciting  desire,  is  yet  the  most 
certain  to  retain  the  love  it  has  produced.  Her  dark 
complexion  was  in  strong  contrast  with  her  blue  eyes 
and  fair  hair,  but  these  almost  sure  signs  of  a  pas- 
sionate organization,  in  which  are  mixed  tAvo  different 
and  opposite  natures,  voluptuous  langmir  and  ardent 
vivacity,  were  belied  by  her  quiet  behavior  and  an 
expression  of  kindness.  When  she  used  to  raise  her 
eyes  toward  any  person,  one  would  say  that  she  was 
looking  for  some  grief  to  console,  and  would  suppose 
that  only  the  troubles  of  other  people  could  ruffle  the 
quietness  of  her  soul. 

In  spite  of  all  these  qualities,  Adele  de  Launay  had 
never  been  happy.  At  twenty-one  she  had  married 
a  man  of  twice  her  age.  Not  having  known  love's 
infatuation,  she  had  not  even  had  the  opportunity  of 
experiencing  that  quiet  happiness  which  surely  pos- 
sesses a  gieater  value  and  lasts  longer.  Her  husband 
was  one  of  those  men  Avithout  vices  or  virtues,  whose 
lives  run  from  one  project  to  another,  planning 
schemes  which  are  soon  given  up  for  new  ones ;  one  of 
those  incomplete  natures,  without  will  or  patience, 
that  vegetate  e\crywhei'e  without  bearing  fruit.  She 
had  followed  him  to  various  cities  where  he  had  gone 
for  foolish  experiments  or  for  unsuccessful  industrial 
speculations,  and  the  clearest  and  most  evident  result 


1 


1 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  W 

a  poco  e  si  scolpiscono  nel  cuore,  e  che  difficili  ad  ecci- 
tare  desiderio,  sonoper6  molto  piu  sicure  di  conservare 
r  amore  che  hanno  saputo  destare.  La  sua  bvuna  car- 
nagioue  faceva  contrasto  coi  suoi  capcUi  biondi  e  cogli 
occhi  cerulei,  ma  questo  contrasto  indizio  quasi  certo  di 
una  passionataorganizzazionenella  quale  sono  confuse 
due  opposte  nature,  il  languore  voluttuoso  e  1'  arden- 
te  vivacity  era  smentito  dal  suo  riservato  conteguo  e' 
dair  espressione  di  bont^  sparsa  sul  suo  volto.  Quan- 
d'  essa  alzava  gli  occhi  su  qualche  persona,  sarebbesi 
detto  che  andasse  in  ccrca  di  un  dolore  per  consolarlo, 
e  si  sarebbe  iramaginato  che  soltanto  gli  altrui  afianni 
potessero  turbare  la  serenit4  del  suo  aninio. 

"A  dispetto  di  queste  qualittl  Adole  de  Launay  non 
era  mai  stata  feliee.  All'  cfcV  diventun  anno  maritata 
con  un  uomo  che  aveva  piu  del  doppio  della  sua  eta, 
non  avendo  conosciuto  1'  ebbrezza  dell'  amore  non 
aveva  avuto  1'  occasione  di  provare  la  felicity  tran- 
quilla  che  scnza  dubbio  possiede  un  maggior  valore 
e  dura  pivi  a  lungo.  Suo  marito  era  uno  di  quegli 
uomini  seuza  vizii,  nh  virtu  dei  quali  la  vita  trascorre 
passando  da  una  idea  all'  altra,  formando  progetti  che 
vengono  abbandonati  per  altri,  nature  incomplete 
aprowedute  di  pazienza  e  di  volonti  che  vegetano  per 
ogni  dove  senza  produrre  f rutto  alcuno.  Essa  lo  aveva 
accompagnatoin  varie  cittil  dove  erasi  recatoper  falliti 
tentativi,  per  csperienze  mancate,  o  per  speculazioni  in- 
dustriali  andato  a  vuoto  ed  il  resultato  piu  netto  e  piu 


1 


I 


78  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

of  all  these  journej-ings  had  always  been  the  same — a 
loss  of  time  and  capital.  Fiiiiilly,  after  many  years 
of  this  roving  existence,  Mr.  de  Launay,  almost  ruined 
but  not  reformed,  had  been  enticed  into  a  new  scheme 
which  had  alhired  him  on  account  of  its  remoteness 
and  the  probability  of  its  success.  With  the  remains 
of  his  fortune,  he  had  laden  a  ship  with  goods  which 
he  intended  to  sell  in  South  America  at  fifty  per 
cent,  profit,  and  this  time  he  had  put  himself  at  the 
head  of  the  expedition,  having  agreed  with  his  wife 
that  she  should  remain  in  Paris  while  waiting  for 
the  "gallons." 

Of  her  own  dowry  Mrs.  de  Launay  had  saved  a 
hundred  thousand  francs,  which  her  husband  could 
not  touch.  Mrs.  Valabei-t,  her  distant  cousin,  who 
had  many  times  had  occasion  to  appreciate  her,  had 
requested  her  to  come  and  reside  with  her.  Adele 
had  accepted  this  offer,  which  at  the  same  time  leav- 
ing her  free  and  mistress  of  her  own  movements, 
afforded  her  protection  and  a  home  befitting  her  age 
and  position,  and  she  had  now  been  residing  in  that 
house  for  six  months. 

Saint-Gilles,on  perceiving  the  countess  of  Septeuil, 
assumed  a  more  contented  air,  and  his  eyes  were 
enabled  to  express  something  a  little  resembling 
thought      With  an  awkward  and  vei-y  evident  inten- 


1 


e  same — a 
any  years 
ost  ruined 
!W  scheme 
emoteness 
e  remains 
ods  which 
fifty  per 
olf  at  the 
1  his  wife 
aiting  for 

d  saved  a 
md  could 
isin,  who 
3  her,  had 
f.  Adele 
time  leav- 
avements, 
ig  her  age 
ig  in  thiit 

Septeuil, 
iyes  wei'e 
esembllng 
lent  inten- 


UNA  LETTEHA  ANONIMA.  7fi 

manifesto  di  tutti  quei  suoi  viaggi  era  stato  sempre  lo 
stesso.  una  pcrdita,  cioe,  tanto  di  tempo,  quunto  di 
capitate. 

Dopo  varii  anni  dl  questa  nomade  esistenza  il  signor 
de  Launay  quasi  rovinato,  ma  non  corretto  si  era  da 
ultimo  lasciab)  adescaro  da  un  nuovo  progetto  che  lo 
aveva  sedotto  a  cagione  della  lontananzae  della  proba 
bilitA,  di  succcsso.  Coi  rimasngli  di  sua  fortuna  aveva 
caricato  un  bastimento  di  oggetti  che  pretendeva  di  ven- 
dcre  al  50-100  di  beneficio  nell'  America  meridionale, 
e  si  era  messo  alia  testa  della  spedizione,  questa  volta 
solo,  giacch^  per  comime  accordo  sua  moglie  rimaneva 
a  Parigi  per  ricevere  i  gallioni. 
..Delia  propria  dote  la  signora  de  Launay  aveva  con- 
servato  un  centomila  lire  che  suo  maiito  non  aveva  po 
tuto  toccare.  La  signora  Valabert  sua  lontana  cugina 
che  spesso  aveva  avuto  1'  occasione  di  apprezzarla, 
I'  aveva  pregata  di  recarsi  ad  abitare  con  lei.  Adele 
aveva  accettato  questa  proposta  che  lasciandola  al  tempo 
stesso  libera  e  padrona  delle  sue  azioni  le  ofl'riva  una 
protezione  ed  un  aeilo  necessario  alia  sua  etk  ed  alia 
sua  posizione  isolata  e  gik  da  circa  sei  mesi  ella  viveva 
in  quella  casa,  buona  ed  affettuos  i  con  tutti,  discreta  ma  . 
non  indifferente  ed  occupandosi  degli  affari  della  fami- 
glia  solo  quando  veniva  consultata. 

Sain^Gilles  nel  vedere  la  contessa  di  Septeuil  as- 
sunse  un'  aria  piu  gioviale  ed  i  suoi  occhi  giunsero 
pei-fino  ad  esprimere  qualche  cosa  che  rassomigliava 


^^i??* 


r 


i) 


80  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETl'BB. 

tion  of  joking,  he  addressed  a  few  compliments  to  the 
noble  lady,  and  congratulations  upon  meeting  her  at 
Mrs.  Valabert's.  On  her  part,  Adele  de  Launay  had 
contented  herself  with  bowing  to  Mi-s.  Septeuil.  As 
soon  as  the  countess  had  left,  Saint-Gilles  and  the  two 
ladies  went  into  the  parlor.  There  Mrs.  Valabert 
addressed  Adele  thus : 

"Cousin,  you  well  know  our  agreement,  absolute 
and  full  froedom  as  well  for  you  as  for  me.  This 
morning  you  wished  Saint-Gilles  to  accompany  you 
while  shopping  at  several  places.  Be  pleased  now  to 
give  him  back  to  me  as  we  have  need  to  converse  to- 
gether." 

"Since  you  wish  to  be  alone,  I  will  retire." 

"Before  you  go,"  replied  Mrs.  Valabert,  "allow 
me  to  repair  an  involuntary  negligence.  Yesterday 
I  was  somewhat  ill,  this  morning  you  went  out  early 
without  my  having  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you.  I 
hope  you  have  not  received  bad  news  ? " 

" None,  my  dear  cousin,"  answered  Adele,  '♦and  I 
thank  you  heartily  for  the  interest  you  take  in  all  that 

concerns  me." 

After  these  remarks,  she  retired  to  her  own  apart- 
ments. * 

Saint-Gilles  gazed  after  her,  saying: 

"  That  crazy  fellow,  de  Launay,  is  happier  than  he 
deserves  to  be.     Here  is  a  woman  who  loves  him  in 


n 


«HMI 


UNA  LETTEnA  ANONIMA. 


81 


ents  to  the 
Ing  her  fit 
auuay  hud 
(teuil.  As 
nd  the  two 
.  Valabert 

t,  absolute 
me.  This 
ipany  you 
sed  now  to 
onveree  to- 


rt, "allow 

Yesterday 

it  out  early 


g  you. 


le,  '♦and  I 
)  in  all  that 

own  apart- 


ier  than  he 
ves  him  in 


!  d  un  pensioro.  Con  una  goft'ii  o  visibilissima  inten- 
zione  tli  malizia,  ei  dlresso  dei  complimenti  alia  nobile 
da  na  e  si  felicito  d'  incontrai'la  in  casa  della  signora 
Valabert.  Dal  suo  lato  Adelc  de  Launay  si  era  con- 
tjntata  di  ealutare  la  signora  di  Septeuil.  Partita  che 
fa  la  contessa,  Saint-Gilles  e  le  due  signore  entrarono 
nel  salone.     Allora  la  signora  Valabert  disse  ad  Adele. 

"Cugina,  I  en  3  pete  i  nostri  patti;  assoluta  e  per- 
fetta  liberty  tan  to  per  voi  quanto  per  me.  Questa 
mattina  avete  desiderato  che  il  signor  Saint-Gilles  vi 
accompagnasse  nelle  corse  che  dovevate  fare  per  com- 
prare  diversi  oggetti,  abbiate  adesso  la  bonti  di  resti- 
tuirmelo  giacchfe  abbiamo  bisogno  di  parlare  insieme." 

"Desiderate  rimanere  soli,  me  ne  vado." 

"Prima  di  ritirarvi,"  riprese  la  signora  Valabert, 
"  pei'mettetemi  di  riparare  una  volontaria  negligen/tu 
So  che  avete  ricevuto  lettere  da  vostro  marito.  ler- 
sora  fui  alquanto  indisposta,  questa  mattina  siete  uscita 
per  tempo  senza  che  avessi  il  piacere  di  vedervi. 
Spero  non  abbiate  ricevuto  alcuna  cattiva  notizia." 

"Nessuna,  cara  cugina,"  rispose  Adele  un  po'  com- 
mossa,  "e  di  vero  cuore  vi  ringrazio  dell' interesse  che 
prendete  per  tutto  cio  che  mi  concerne," 

Pronunziate  questa  parole  csci  e  si  ritiro  nel  suo  ap- 
pa  tamento. 

Saint-Gilles  k  ■>   ne  dietro  cogli  sguardi. 

"  Quel  matto  di  ^.  e  Launay  h  pi  a  fell  e  di  quello  che 
meriterebbe.     Ecco  una  donna  che  lo  ama  non  ostante 


1 

"♦ 


$ 


»!W^ 


83  AK  ANONYMOUS  LETTRR. 

bpiteof  all  his  extravagances.  If  ho  would  write  her 
to  join  him,  I  would  not  be  surprised  if  she  should  at 
once  obey.  While  he  could  have  quietly  enjoyed  such 
a  treasure  at  home,  he  became  a  merchant  of  Cologne 
water  and  English  soap  in  the  other  hemisphere. 
There  are  some  persons  who,  although  their  heads 
were  full  of  eyes,  would  not  be  able  to  see  clearly." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mrs.  Valabert,  sadly,  "there  are 
passions  impossible  to  be  explained ;  some  spurn  virtue, 
some  do  not  know  vice." 

"Oh  1 "  said  SaintrGilles,  who  had  already  without 
ceremony  seated  himself  in  an  easy-chair,  his  legf. 
crossed  and  his  body  reclining,  "what  has  happened  ? 
Did  the  countess  depart  disappointed  <" 

"Yes,  friend." 

"Why  so?" 

"Because  there  exists  an  obstacle  which  you  do 
not  know,  and  which  we  cannot  say  that  we  will  be 
able  to  overcome." 

"What  is  it?" 

"It  is  just  to  speak  to  you  of  it  and  to  ask  your 
advice  that  I  have  wished  to  be  alone  with  you.  ' 

Mrs.  Valabert  brought  another  easy-chair  near  Mr. 
Saint-Gilles,  and  sat  dovra  beside  him. 

Before  we  let  them  begin  their  confidences,  it  is 
necessary  to  explain  briefly  the  friendship  which 
existed  between  these  two  persons  : 


UNA  I^TTEHA  ANONIMA. 


83 


yrite  her 
ihould  at 
ycd  such 
Cologne 
lisphere. 
lir  heads 
sarly." 
there  are 
:n  virtue, 

r  without 
his  legh 
ippened  ? 


1  you  do 
e  will  be 


ask  your 
ou.  " 
near  Mr. 

ices,  it  is 
ip  which 


tutto  le  sue  stravuganze.  Se  egli  le  scrivesse  di  an- 
dare  a  raggiungcrio  non  sarci  allutto  sorpreso  ch'  elhi 
r  ubbidirebbe  subito.  Mcntre  uvrebbe  potuto  tran- 
quillamonte  godei-si  tale  toworo  eccolo  cho  pensa  di 
tarsi  negoziante  di  acqua  di  Cologna  e  di  wapone  in- 
glese  neir  altro  emisfcro.  Vi  sono  poi-soue  che  anche 
colla  testa  circondata  da  millo  occhi  non  arrivercbbero 
a  vedervi  chiaro." 

*'Si,"  rispose  tristainente  la  signora  Valabcrt,  "esi- 
Btono  passioni  impossibili  a  spiegarsi,  taluni  disprez- 
zano  la  virtix,  altri  non  sanno  conoscere  il  vizio." 

-"Eh!  buonDio!"  disse  Saint-Gillcs,  che  gii  erasi 
seduto  senza  ceromonie  colle  gambe  accavalcate  ed  il 
dosso  rovesciato  tmlla  spalliera  di  una,  poltrona;  "cosa 
h  mai  accaduto?  Fowe  la  contessa  se  n'  ^  ita  dispia- 
ciuta?" 

"S\,amico." 

"Ebbene?" 

"  Ebbene,  hawi  un  ostacolo  che  voi  non  conosccte, 
e  non  so  se  riesciremo  a  sormontarlo." 

"Quale?" 

"  Ho  voluto  rimanere  sola  con  voi  appunto  per  ren. 
dervene  istrutto  e  domandarvi  il  vostro  consisrlio." 

La  signora  Valabei-t  avvicino  una  polti-onu  e  s'  assise 
al  fianco  di  Saint>Gille8. 

.Prima  di  lasciarla  cominc'iai-e  la  sua  confidenza  fa 
d'  uopo  dj  spiegare  con  poche  parole  1'  amicizia  ch'  esL 
steva  fra  queste  due  persone. 


•mm- 


P,^  AN  ANONTMOTIR  LFTTER. 

Saiiit-Gillert  wius  a  Imchelor,  Mrs.  Valabort  was  a 
widow,  but  whiiih  Is  rarely  the  case,  their  rehitious 
were  truly  hosed  upon  pure  and  holy  fricnd»hip. 
Julius'  mother  was  virtuous  not  only  on  account  oi 
her  trainiufr,  but  by  nature.  Cold  and  calm  in  her 
youth,  she  had  never  admitted  the  poHHibility  of  a 
fault,  and  the  lovo  which  enraptured  the  senses,  love 
Avithout  marriage,  was  conrtidered  by  her  u  chimera 
or  a  vice  without  excuse,  like  hypocrisy,  falsehood  or 
theft. 

Saint-Gilles  had  received  many  favors  from  Mrs. 
Valabert,  for  which  he  had  shown  himself  very  grate- 
ful. ,  He  continued  to  visit  the  widow,  and  little  by 
little  made  himself  indispensable  to  her.  He  had  no 
equal  in  bestowing  trifling  attentiona  and  in  busying 
himself  with  other  people's  affairs.  Always  at  the 
ilisposal  of  whoever  needed  him,  he  collected  rents, 
canvassed  for  mortgages  to  place  money,  arranged 
preliminaries  of  marriages  and  took  upon  himself  all 
sorts  of  troubles  and  every  kind  of  work.  In  short, 
he  was  a  most  clever  and  indefatigable  "/actoiww." 

'^ Friend,"  began  Mrs.  Valabert,  "to  you  am  I 
indebted  for  the  acquaintance  of  the  countess  of  Sep- 
teuil.  You  were  the  fii-st  who  thought  of  this  mar- 
riage, so  advantageous  for  my  son.  The  counttss 
crave  her  consent  to  this  union,  and  has  given  me  the 
assurance  that  her  daughter  had  no  opposition  to  it 
whatever.     With  sorrow  I  have  discovered  a  secret 


I 


TTI 


crt  wnB  a 
'  rehitions 
i'i<!n<lHhip. 
iccount  of 
ilm  in  her 
ility  of  a 
•nscs,  lovo 
u  chimera 
Ischood  or 

Tom  Mrs. 
^ery  grate- 
d  little  by 
He  liad  no 
in  busying 
lya  at  the 
Bted  rents, 
,  arranged 
liimself  all 
In  short, 
ctotum.'''' 
you  am  I 
CSS  of  Sep- 
E  this  mar- 
e  countt'sa 
ven  me  the 
)8ition  to  it 
ed  a  secret 


UNA  LEITERA  ANONIMA.        *  §8 

Sjsint-Gilles  non  era  auTtnogliato,  la  signora  Vala- 
bert  era  vcdova,  ma,  cosa  rara,  le  loro  rclazioni  orano 
rcahnente  basate  sulla  pnra  e  santa  amici/ia.     La  mo- 
dre  di  Giidio  era  virtuosa  non  solo  a  eagiono  doi  prin- 
cipii  ricevuti,  ma  anche  per  natuni.     Fredda  e  calma, 
nolla  ^wn  gioventu  nonavevamai  aninicsso  pci  un  solo 
instnnte  la  possibilitil  di  una  colpa,  e  1'  anioro  che  com- 
muove  i  sensi,  1'  amoro  senza  il  matrinionio  era  da  lei 
coiiaiderato  quale  una  chimera,  oppuro  quale  un  vizio 
senza  scusa  simile  all'  ipocrisia,  alia  bugia,  al  furto. 
^  SaintGillos  aveva  ricevuto  dal  signor  Valabert  dci 
favori  pei  quali  erasi  mostrato  riconoscente.    Egli  con- 
tinuo  di  far  visita  alia  vedova  e  p:)co  a  poco  si  rese  in- 
dispensabilo.     Egli  non  aveva  il  suo  eguale  per  le  pic- 
cole  attenzioni  e  per  occuparsi  degli  aftari  altrui. 
Sempre  a  disposizione  di  chiunque  volesso  servirsi  di 
lui  egli  riscuoteva  le  rendite,andava  in  cerea  d'  ipoteche 
pel  coUocamente  di  somme  di  danaro,  cominciava  pre- 
liminari  di  matrimonio,  s'  incaricava  di  tutte  le  com- 
missioni  ed  accettava  qualunque  fatica.    Insomma  era 
\[factottmi  il  piii  intelligente  ed  il  piii  instancabile. 

"  Amico,"  cominci6  la  signora  Valabert,  "a  voi  vado 
debitore  della  conoscenza  dcUa  signora  contessa  di 
Septeuil;  foste  voi  che  il  primopensastead  un  matrimo- 
nio che  sarebbe  cosi  avvantaggioso  per  mio  figlio.  La 
contessa  accord6  il  suo  consenso  e  mi  ha  accertato  che 
sua  £glia  non  vi  metteva  ostacolo.  Con  mio  dispia- 
oere  ho  saputo  un  segreto  oh'  io  sospettava  gi4  da 


inyiiiHn  <nn. 


f 


86  AN  ANomrMous  leiter. 

which  for  a  long  time  I  had  suspected,  namely,  that 
Julius  hiiA  a  guilty  relation  with  a  person  whom  he  is 
passionately  in  love  with." 

"Oh!"  replied  Saint-Gilles   in  a  very  easy  way, 
'♦at  his  age  that  is  a  very  common  occurrence." 
^       "  Yes,  but  he  will  not  part  from  this  woman  1 " 

"Poh!  Julius  is  a  young  man  of  spirit,  who  will 
not  sacrifice  his  futui-e  to  a  caprice.  Be  at  ease.  Be- 
sides, he  knows  of  the  negotiations  begun  with  the 
countess  and  he  has  already  seen  her  daughter.  It  is 
true  that  he  has  not  consented,  openly  but  neither  has 
he  refused.  If  he  had  not  had  good  intentions,  he 
would  not  have  let  us  take  these  steps,  since  at  the 
point  where  we  now  stand  it  would  be  almost  impos- 
sible to  break  them  oli"  without  a  strong  and  reason- 
able motive." 

"We  have  not  positively  consulted  him,  and  only 
taken  his  silence  for  consent.  Perhaps  Julius  does 
not  even  know  that  the  countess  came  this  morning  to 
visit  me.  Do  not  be  mistaken  about  the  character  of 
my  son.  I  can  and  do  know  it  better  than  you.  He 
is  a  man  who  waits  for  the  last  moment,  not  to  make 
a  definite  decision,  but  only  to  communicate  to  you 
his  resolve.  To  display  courage,  he  needs  to  feel 
danger.  He  loves  me,  it  is  true,  but  if  his  love  is 
Bincere  and  deep,  he  will  not  yield  to  me." 

"And  who  is  the  object  of  his  passion?"  aaked 


i       \ 


*as«U 


inwiwfeiii 


UNA  LE'lTEllA  ANONIMA.  87 

lantro  tempo.    Giulio  manticne  una  colpevole  amicizia 
coiruna  donna  della  quale  egli  h  appaasionatamcnte 

innamorato. 

"  Ah  !"  osservo  tranquillamenle  Saint-Gilles,  "alia 

sua  et^  h  cosa  comunissima." 

"  Se  pero  cgU  non  volesse  scpararsi  da  quelladonna." 

"Bah?  Giulio  h  un  giovine  di  spirito  che  non  sa- 
grificherebbe  il  suo  avvenire  per  un  capiiccio  di  gio- 
ventii  1  Siate  tranquilla.  D'  altra  parte  egU  conosce 
le  trattative  intavolatecoUa  contessa  e  gi^  ne  ha  veduto 
la  fit'lia.  Vero  h  ch'  egli  non  ha  apertamente  espresso 
la  sua  volont^  affermativa,  ma  nemraeno  ha  rifiutato. 
Se  non  avesse  buone  intenzioni  ei  non  avrebbe  fatto 
fare  questi  passi.  Al  punto  in  cui  ci  troviamo  c'  h 
impossibile  d'  indietreggiare  e  rompere  senza  un  forte 
e  plausibile  motivo." 

"Noi  non  lo  abbiamo  positivamente  consultato,  e 
Bolo  abbiamo  preso  il  suo  silenzio  per  un  consenso. 
Giulio  fors'  anche  ignora  quanto  f ra  uoi  h  stato  con- 
venuto,  e  nemmeno  sa  che  stamattina  la  eontessa  h 
venuta  a  farmi  visita.  Non  prendet«  errore  sul  carat- 
t«re  di  mio  figlio,  io  posso  conoscerlo  e  lo  conosco 
meglio  di  voi,  egli  h  V  uomo  che  aspetta  1'  ultimo  mo- 
mentonon  gi^  per  prendereuna  risoluzione  definitiva, 
ma  solo  per  fame  parte.  Egli  ha  bisogno  di  sentire  il 
pericolo  per  avere  il  coraggio.  Mi  ama,  e  vero,  ma 
se  il  suo  amore  h  sincero  e  profondo  non  mi  cederii." 

«»E  qual'  h  V  oggetto  di  questa  sua  passioneT'  do- 


I 


88  AN  ANONVMOnS  LETTER. 

Saint-Gillcs,  "perhaps  some  common  woman?    per- 
haps an  agtress  ?  perhaps  a  dancer  ? " 

"Whoever  she  may  be,  she  mnst  be  a  woman  of 
loose  habits,"  replied  Mrs.  Valabert,  "as  I  have  jeen 
told  she  is  young  and  beautiful;  she  belongs  to  an 
honest  family,  and  unhappily  it  seems  that  she  has 
received  a  splendid  education.  She  is  a  piano  teacher, 
by  name,  Fanny " 

"  Fanny  Dusmenil  ? " 

"Exactly  that.     Do  you  know  her? " 

"  Certainly.  For  some  time  she  gave  lessons  to 
my  little  niece.  Beautiful  creature  I  a  beautiful  mor- 
sel, I  swear  to  you.  What  eyes  1  What  beautiful 
hands  !  and  to  all  that  she  adds  talent,  great  talent 
indeed !  Julius  saw  her  at  my  sister's  house.  One 
day  she  sent  a  message  notifying  us  that  she  could 
not  come  any  more.  No  one  could  guess  the  reason 
of  such  a  resolve,  but  now  it  is  all  explained.  Upon 
my  word,  nobody  would  have  surmised  it  With 
her  modest  demeanor,  she  must  be  an  old  fox.  She 
must  not  be  allowed  to  go  unpunished.  Where  does 
she  reside  'i " 

"Near  here,  in  Furatemberg  sti-eet,!  believe." 

"I  will  run  there  at  once,"  said  Saint-Gilles,  rising. 

"Dear  friend,  I  never  doubted  your  interest  in  me 
and  for  all  that  concerns  me.  Before  tixking  any  steps, 
I  must  ask  another  favor.  Instead  of  going  to  see  this 
young  girl,  who  would  surely  complain  of  it  to  Julius, 


1 


1 1    pcr- 

)man  of 
ve  jeen 
^3  to  an 
she  has 
teacher, 


jsons  to 
ful  mor- 
)eautiful 
at  talent 
e.  One 
he  could 
e  reason 
Upon 
.  With 
X.  She 
ere  does 

re." 

3,  rising. 
!st  in  me 
ay  steps, 
0  see  this 
0  Julius, 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONUdA.  89 

mand6  Saint-Giles,  "forsequalchedonnicciuola?  Forse 
un  attrice  ?    Forse  una  ballerina  ? " 

"  Chiunque  essa  sia,  per  certo  dev'  essere  una  donna 
di  perduti  costumi,"  riprese  la  signora  Valabert,  "a 
quanto  mi  si  disse  h  giovine,  bella,  appartiene  ad 
un'  onesta  famiglia  e  per  sventura  ha  ricevuto  una 
distinta  educazione.  E'  una  maestra  di  musica  a 
nome  Fanny . . . . " 

*'  Fanny  Dusmenil  ? " 

*'  Appunto  la  conoscete  forse? " 

"Per  Baccol  Per  qualchc  tempo  dette  lezioni  ad 
una  mia  nipotina.  Bellissima  creatura !  bel  boccone  ! 
ve  lo  giuro;  un  portamento!  e  poi,  e  poi,  ohe  oc- 
chi  1  che  mani  superbe  1  a  tutto  questo  aggiungete 
del  talento,  e  molte  anchel  Giulio  1'  ha  veduta  da 
mia  sorella.  Un  bel  giorno  essa  mando  ad  avvisare 
che  non  sarebbe  piii  venuta;  s'  ignorava  il  motivo  di 
una  cosl  fatta  risoluzione;  eccolo  conosciuto  adesso; 
aSh  mia,  nessuno  lo  avrebbe  sui  posto.  CoUa  sua  aria 
modesta  dev'  essere  volpe  e  jhia.  Non  bisogna  che 
creda  di  passarsela  cosi  liscia.     Dove  abita  ? " 

"  Qui  vicino,  via  Furstemberg,  cosi  credo." 

"  Vi  corro  subito,"  disse  Saint-Gilles,  alzandosi. 

"  Amico  non  ho  mai  posto  in  dubbio  il  vostro  affetto 
per  me  e  la  vostra  premura  per  quanto  possa  interes- 
sarmi.  Prima  di  fare  qualunque  passo  debbo  doman- 
darvi  un  altro  favore.  Invece  di  vedere  questa  gio- 
vine che  se  ne  lamenterebbe  con  Giulio,  snaturando  le 


m 


)  ' 


90  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEB. 

exaggerating  your  words,  would  it  not  be  better  to  ad- 
dress your  remarks  to  my  son  ?  I  hesitate  to  speak 
to  him.  He  is  no  more  a  boy;  I  cannot  scold  him, 
and  in  spite  of  my  love  I  could  with  great  diffi- 
culty decide  to  be  a  witness  to  his  blindness  and  to 
hear  him  praise  the  woman  who  deceives  him,  for 
how  can  we  believe  in  the  virtue  of  a  woman  who 
even  for  once  has  forgotten  her  duty  ?  '" 

"It  was  my  intention,"  answered  Saint-Gilles,  "to 
employ  the  quickest  means  to  cut  the  evil  at  its  root; 
but,  as  you  wish  it,  I  will  speak  to  Julius.  It  is 
impossible  that  he  will  not  recollect  himself.  Did 
they  tell  you  that  he  intended  to  marry  her  ? " 
"  No,  but  if  perchance  he  were  about  to  do  so  ? " 
"Ohl  before  all,"  replied  Saint-Gilles,  "we  must 
not  trust  this  princess.  I  pretend  to  be  a  good  physi- 
ognomist, and  yet  I  would  have  given  her  the  com- 
munion without  confession.  We  have  no  time  to  lose ; 
all  these  creatures  have  a  fondness  for  marriage.  I 
hope  Julius  will  open  his  eyes.  He  is  in  love.  Very 
well ;  he  will  fall  in  love  with  his  bride,  who  is  also  a 
beautiful  woman,  and  after  eight  days  he  will  think 
of  the  other  no  more.  After  all,  we  have  a  last  re- 
source to  diy  the  tears  of  his  Ariadne.  What  does 
she  wish  for?  A  position?  money?  we  will  giVe  her 
half  of  what  she  asks,  showing  ourselves  good  and 
settling  the  matter  conveniently.  With  twenty  to 
twenty-five  bills  of  a  thousand  each,  all  will  be  made 


:ter  to  ad- 
3  to  speak 
cold  him, 
reat  diffi- 
iss  and  to 
him,  for 
jman  who 

lilies,  "to 
it  its  root; 
us.  It  is 
self.  Did 
?" 

:loso?" 
"we  must 
[)od  physi- 
r  the  com- 
ae to  lose ; 
rriage.  I 
ive.  Very 
Lo  is  also  a 
will  think 
a  last  re- 
V^hat  does 
11  give  her 
good  and 
twenty  to 
1  be  made 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  91 

vostre  parole  non  sarebbe  forse  meglio  di  dirigcrsi  a 

mio  iiglio  ?     lo  esito  a  parlargli,  ogli  non  e  piu  un  fan 

ciullo,  non  posso  sgridarlo  e  malgrado  il  mio  amore 

per  lui  difficilmcnto  mi  decidorei  di  essero  testimone 

del  8U0  accccamento  e  scntirgli  fare  1'  elogio  di  quella 

donna  che  certamenteloinganna;  perocehc  come  poter 

prestar  fede  alia  viitii  di  una  donna  che  per  una  sola 

volta  sia  giunta  a  dimenticare  il  proprio  dovere?" 
"Era  mia  intenzionc,"  disse  Saint-Gilles,   "  d' im- 

piegarc  i  mezzi  piii  soUeciti  e  tagliare  il  male' alia  ra- 
dice.  Giacche  voi  volete  cosi,  parlero  a  Giulio.  Egli 
h  impossibile  che  non  rientri  in  se  stesso.  Vi  hanno 
detto  s'  egli  intenda  sposarla  ?  " 

"  No,  ma  se  si  decidesse  a  fare  questa  follia." 
"Oh!  prima  di  tutto,"ripigli6  SaintGilles,  "non 
bisogna  fidarsi  di  questa  prineipessa.  lo  che  ho  la 
pretcnzione  di  cssere  buon  fisionomista  le  avrei  dato 
la  communione  senza  confessione.  Non  vi  h  tempo  da 
pcvdere;  tutte  queste  creature  hanno  la  mania-di  vo 
lersi  fare  sposare.  Giulio  aprirA  gli  occhi.  E'  amo- 
roso? Sia  pure;  egli  amer^  sua  raoglie  che  pure  h 
bella,  in  otto  giorni  non  pensersi  piu  all'  altra.  In  fin 
dei  conti  avvi  un  mezzo  sicuro  per  asciugare  il  pianto 
della  sua  Arianna.  Che  cosa  vuol'  essa'd  una  posi- 
zione,  del  danaro,  Ic  si  daril  la  metA  di  quello  che  pre- 
tende  mostrandosi  cosi  buoni,  ed  accomodando  le  cose 
convenevolmente.  Venti  a  vcnticinque  biglietti  da 
mille  e  tutto  andri  bene.     Con  questo  danaro  si  roaa- 


i 


'B!rai>i»i-^r'TMiini-BfTTnii»«fTnriwTT 


inlnqwil'jyiWnHMMIHIirinlllWTWillHIW^IWI 


92  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

right  With  this  sum  we  shall  send  this  young  lady 
to  her  penates  and  her  music  with  variations,  and 
after  a  time  she  will  marry  some  young  ai-tist,  whom 
she  will  make  happy.  I  will  take  it  into  my  hands 
and  then  who  shall  know  ?  Though  I  am  not  severe 
like  you,  I  think  it  really  very  probable  and  possible 
that  she  may  deceive  Julius.  I  can  easily  believe  that 
a  woman,  if  mistress  of  itself,  can  very  well  avoid 
lovers,  but  as  soon  as  I  know  she  has  a  lover,  I  am 
justified  in  supposing  her  with  two  lovers.  We  shall 
see ;  and  while  you  are  awaiting  the  result,  try  to  cheer 
yourself." 

The  convei-sation  was  pursued  a  little  longer,  and 
Saint-Gilles  temporarily  persuadeci  Jhs.  Valabert  not 
to  alarm  herself  and  to  continue  the  negotiations  with 
the  countess.  His  arguments  with  Julius  did  not 
secure  the  result  desired.  The  reader  will  excuse  us 
from  repeating  here  the  very  excellent  reasons  he 
presented  and  urged  in  speaking  to  Julius ;  it  will  be 
enough  for  him  to  know  that  none  of  them  were  re- 
ceived with  favor.  Saint-Gillos  belonged  to  that  class 
of  persons  who  believe  in  being  useful  to  others  by 
giving  them  advice  for  which  they  have  not  asked. 

The  happy  tranquillity  of  that  family  was  com- 
pletely changed.  Julius,  fearing  his  mother's  tears 
and  prayers,  avoided  her  presence  as  much  as  possible, 
and,  when  with  her,  kept  a  cold  silence.  Vainly  Adele 
de  Launay  endeavored  to  enliven  the  couveraation. 


i# 


~ls*SAI»ln-^^-i,.J 


iroung  lady 
ations,  and 
[•tist,  whom 
>  my  hands 
not  severe 
nd  possible 
believe  that 
well  avoid 
lover,  I  am 
We  shall 
try  to  cheer 

longer,  and 
'alabert  not 
iations  with 
us  did  not 
[I  excuse  us 
reasons  he 
I ;  it  will  be 
sm  were  re- 
to  that  class 
;o  others  by 
lot  asked. 
'  was  com- 
ither's  tears 
as  possible, 
'ainly  Adele 
juvei'sation. 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


93 


derA.  la  signorina  ai  suoi  penati  ed  alia  sua  musica 
con  variazioni  e  col  tempo  sposerA  un  artista  ch'  essa 
render^  f elice.  lo  m'  inoarico  delle  trattative.  E  poi 
chi  sail  Senz'  essere  eevero  al  pari  di  voi,  nel  ton- 
do  pcnso  essere  cosa  pi'obabile  anzi  possibilissima 
ch'  ella  inganni  Giulio.  Posso  ben  credere  che  una 
donna,  abbenche  asaoluta  padrona  di  s^  stessa,  faccia  a 
meno  di  amanti,  pero  dal  momento  in  cui  vengo  a  sa- 
pere  ch'  essa  ne  ha  uno,  posso  anche  supporgljene  due. 
Vedromo  ! ed  aspettando  fatevi  buon'  animo." 

La  conversazione  prolungossi  ancora  un  poco,  e 
Saint-Gilles  prowisoriamente  indusse  la  signora  Vala- 
bert  a  non  ailannarsi  ed  a  continuare  le  trattative  colla 
contessa  di  Septeuil.  La  sua  eloquenza  non  produsse 
su  Giulio  il  risultato  ch'  erasene  ripromesso.  II  lettore 
vorrA  dispensarci  dal  ripetere  qui  tutte  le  eccellentis- 
sime  ragioni  da  lui  addotte  e  fatte  valere  parlando  con 
Giulio,  gli  basti  solo  sapere  come  nessuna  di  quelle 
ragioni  fu  da  quest'  ultimo  accolta  favorevolmcnte.' 

Saint-Gilles  apparteneva  allaclasse  di  quelle  persona 
che  credono  di  essere  utili  ad  altre  prodigando  avvisi 
e  consigli  che  nessuno  loro  doraanda. 

La  pacifica  vita  di  quella  famiglia  era  totalmente 
mutata.  Giulio  temendo  i  pianti  e  le  preghiere  di 
sua  madre,  quanto  piti  poteva,  n'  evitava  la  presen 
za  ed  allorch^  si  trovava  con  lei  manteneva  un 
freddo  silenzio.  Invano  Adele  de  Launay  si  sforzava 
di  rianimare  la  conversazione.     Essa  si  mostrava  buo- 


I 


1  . 


4 


i.;i» 


W  AN  ANONY5IOU8  LETTER. 

She  showed  herself  more  than  usually  good,  thought- 
ful and  amiable,  but  no  explanation  had  ever  taken 
place  in  her  presence ;  neither  had  she  been  admitted 
into  contidonue,  so  that,  jjranted  that  she  did  not  know 
the  cause  of  tliis  coldness,  she  was  in  no  way  author- 
ized to  provoke  a  decisive  explanation.  Julius,  on 
the  other  hand,  had  completely  concealed  from  Fanny 
the  opposition  he  experienced  from  his  mother,  whose 
mouth-piece  was  Saint-Gilles.  He  strengthened  him- 
self in  the  resistance,  always  fearing  the  moment  when 
in  an  irre\ ocable  manner  ho  would  be  obliged  to  sig- 
nify his  tirni  resolve.  He  hoped  that  Saint-Gilles, 
acknowledging  the  inutility  of  his  attempt  and  tired 
of  the  struggle,  would  cease  his  annoyance. 

In  this  false  situation  many  days  passed,  but  the 
end  must  necessarily  come.  One  morning  Mrs.  Val- 
abert's  house  took  on  the  appearance  of  festivity ;  the 
servants  were  going  and  coming  with  a  busy  air. 
Julius,  on  returning  home  at  noon,  noticed  all  this 
stir,  and  was  at  a  loss  to  know  how  to  account  for  it. 
Just  as  he  was  going  to  ask  the  reason  of  it,  the  door 
of  the  parlor  in  which  he  was,  opened.  Mrs.  Vala- 
bei-t  was  coming  from  her  apartments,  dressed  and  in 
the  act  of  going  out  Stopping  before  her  son,  she 
said  to  him : 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  meet  you.  I  hope  that  you 
will  have  no  engagement  for  this  afternoon,  and  if 
you  intend  to  be  out,  I  beg  you  to  sacriface  this  eve» 


I  «t(«W»«lfcf*i*l»f*^W^'! 


i*»'*»iiiBeSS»Si^.-'"« 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


m 


,  thoiight- 
ver  taken 
admitted 
not  know 
ly  aiithor- 
riiliiw,  on 
)m  Fanny 
ler,  whose 
3nod  him- 
icnt  when 
fvd  to  niff- 
int-Gilk'8, 
and  tired 

I,  but  the 
Mrs.  Val- 
ivity;  the 
busy  air. 
d  all  this 
mt  for  It. 
,  the  door 
Ira.  Vala- 
;ed  and  in 
r  son,  she 

that  you 
)n,  and  if 
this  even 


na,  previdente,  araabilo  piu  del  solito,  ma  in  sua  pre- 
sen'/a  non  venivano  scambiato  spiegazioni,  ne  essa 
domandava  di  esscre  chiainata  in  contidenza,  di  ma- 
niera  cho  igiiorando  hi  cagiono  di  quella  freddezza, 
non  poteva  in  aicun  modo  provocare  una  decisiva  spie 
gaziune,  Dal  canto  suo  Giulio  uveva  lasciato  Fanny 
all'  oscuro  dell'  opposizione  ch'  egli  incontrava  da 
parte  di  ana  madre,  della  quale  Saint-Gilles  era  il  por- 
tavoce.  Kgli  s'  incorraggiava  nelia  resistenza,  seni- 
pre  paventando  il  momento  in  cui  avrebbe  dovuto  in 
una  maniera  irrevocabile  significare  la  sua  ferma  de- 
cisione.  Egli  sperava  che  Saint-(iilles  riconoscendo 
1'  inutilitA  dei  suoi  tentaf  ivi  e  stanco  di  lotta  rinun- 
zierebbe  alle  sue  ossessioni. 

In  questa  falsa  situazionepassaronocosl  varii  giorni; 
pero  di  necessity  doveva  avcre  una  line.  Un  bel  mat- 
tino  la  casa  della  signora  Valabert  prese  un  aspetto  di 
festa;  i  servitori  andavano  e  venivano  con  un'  aria  af- 
faccendata.  Giulio,  rientrando  a  mezzod\,rimarcu  tutto 
quel mo>imento,  ne  sapeva a rhe  josa attribuirlo.  GiA 
ei  correva  a  doniandarne  la  8piegazione,allorch6 1'uscio 
del  salotto  in  cui  si  trovava  si  apri.  La  signora  Vala- 
bert veniva  dal  suo  app;u"t  imento,  pronta  ad  uscire. 
Fcrmandosi  innanzi  al  t'/^li  j  gli  disse : 

"  Sono  contentissima  u'  incontrarvi,  spero  che  questo 
dopo  pranzo  non  abbiate  aicun'  affai-e  d'  imporianza ; 
e  se  la  vostraintenzione  tosse  di  non  rimanere  in  casa, 
vi  prcgherei  per  quest'  oggi  di  f armi  il  sagrificio  della 


I 


06  .  AN  ANONYMOUS  liKTTER. 

ing  to  mo,  as  1  am  expecting  u  numerous  company." 

"\Vhom?" 

"Many  tnends,  among  whom  will  be  the  countos's 
of  Septeuil  and  her  daughter." 

"Madam! "  interrupted  Julius. 

But  his  mother,  who  had  spoken  these  words  almost 
huiTiedly,  as  one  who  could  see  no  reason  for  objec- 
tion, had  already  crossed  the  parlor.  A  servant  came 
to  tell  her  that  the  carriage  was  ready. 

In  his  first  emotion  of  surprise,  Julius  had  let  her 
go.  Immediately  he  understood  that  by  disposing  of 
him  in  such  a  way  his  mother  had  made  the  last 
effort  In  that  manner  he  would  have  been  under 
the  necessity  of  letting  others  believe  in  his  silent  aj)- 
proval,  or  by  refusing  to  be  present  to  break  all  the 
negotiations  in  an  unforeseen  way,  which  could  have 
been  considered  bad  manners,  and  would  have  com- 
promised even  his  mother.  And  yet  this  was  the 
only  course  left  to  him. 

This  elaborate  snare,  so  easily  to  be  avoided,  in 
which  they  were  trying  to  entrap  him,  was  more  un- 
bearable than  serious  and  strong  obstacles.  He  had 
seated  himself,  pondering  how  to  act.  Julius  thought 
himself  alone,  and  Wiis  amazed  to  feel  a  hand  laid 
on  the  back  of  his  easy  chair,  while  a  sweet  voice  thus 
spoke  : 

"You  are  sad,  cousin;  is  it  not  true?" 


Ts^^^wM 


UNA  LKTTRRA  ANONIMA. 


97 


.  )« 


npnny 
jountesis 


s  almost 
r  objec- 
nt  came 

let  her 
)8ing  of 
the  lu8t 
I  under 
lent  nj)- 
:  all  the 
Id  have 
ve  com- 
mas the 

ided,  in 
lore  un- 
Hehad 
;hought 
nd  laid 
ice  thus 


vostra  sera  giacclio   uspetto  numcrona  compagnia. " 

''Chir' 

"  Varii  amici  e  fra  gli  altri  la  oontestfa  di  Septeuil 
con  sua  figlia." 

"  Signora  1 "  interruppe  Giulio. 

Ma  gisl  sua  madro,  che  avevu  pronun/.iato  queste 
parole  in  frettu,  quasi  non  prevedesse  alcuna  obiezione 
aveva  attraveraato  la  sala.  Un  domestico  era  venuto 
ud  annunziarle  come  la  carrozza  fosse  i)ronta. 

Nel  suo  primo  movimento  di  sorpresa,  Giulio  1*  ave 
va  lasciata  partire.  A  prima  vista  ei  cap!  come  quel 
cos\  dispon'e  del  la  sua  persona  fosse  uno  sforzo  di- 
sperato.  In  cotesto  modo  ei  si  sarebbe  trovato  nella 
necessity,  o  di  lasciar  credere  al  suo  tacito  consenso 
assistendo  alia  serata,  ovvero,  ricusandovisi,  di  essere 
forzato  di  romperla  in  una  certa  maniera  impreve- 
diita  e  che  poteva  essere  tacciata  di  cattiva  educa- 
zione,  cosa  che  avrebbe  potuto  eziandio  compromet- 
tere  la  madre.  £ppure  quello  si  era  il  solo  partito  che 
gli  rimaneva. 

Questa  elaborata  trappola  cosl  facile  ad  evitarsi  e 
nella  quale  si  cercava  di  farlo  cadere  gli  era  piu  insof- 
fribiie  di  ostacoli  serii  o  forti.  Egli  si  era  seduto  e 
pensava  a  trarsi  da  quell'  imbarazzo.  Giulio  credeva 
di  essere  solo  e  fu  sorpi-eso  nel  sentire  una  mano  po- 
sarsi  suUa  spalliera  della  sua  poltrona,  nel  mentre  che 
una  voce  doice  cosl  si  iesprimeva  : 

"Siete  afflitto,  buon  cugino,  non  h  egli  vero  ? " 


:ll 


08  AN  ANONYMOUS  l-KTTBK. 

"Julius  turned  Bnd  saw  Mrs.  de  Luunny  gazing  at 
him  with  intoirst. 

"How  loiijo:  have  you  been  there?"  ho  nsked.  "I 
do  not  renienibcr  havinjr  socn  you  conio  in." 

"I  wfiH  in  your  niothcr'H  room.  I  tirrived  just 
wlion  she  left  the  drnwinji-room,  but  lovers  hiive  nei- 
tlier  eurs  nor  eyes,  and  I  am  not  oHended  at  your 
nltsentmindedness.     All  your  attention  nuwt  be  given 

t-t)IIER." 

"Then  you  know  all?* 

"Yes;  this  evening  party  had  already  been  arranged 
four  days  ago.  It  is  a  little  plot  prepared  by  Mr. 
Saint-Gilles,  to  which  my  cousin  has  given  her  con- 
Kent  Neither  the  former  nor  the  latter  will  believe 
that  your  love  is  deep  and  sincere."     ' 

"  And  do  you  believe  it  to  be  so  ? " 

•'I?  I  ought  to  have  been  a  diviner,  as  neither 
you  nor  your  mother  ever  spoke  to  mo  of  it.  All 
that  I  do  know  I  have  learned  from  your  sadness  and 
from  some  few  words  heard  by  chance  or  willingly 
listened  to." 

"If  they  had  consulted  you,  what  would  have  been 
your  answer  ? " 

"  I  should  have  refused  to  enter  into  this  plot." 

"Why?" 

"Because  one  cannot  betray  one's  allies." 

"  Then  you  pity  me." 

"If  I  had  not,  would  you  have  seen  mo  here? " 


SSrSSBB'*^ 


;azing  at 

kcd.   "I 

ved  jnst 

tmve  noi- 

at  your 

be  given 


xrrnngetl 

by  Mr. 

her  con- 

l  beliovo 


I  neither 

it.     All 

ncss  and 

ivillingly 

ave  been 

plot." 


3re?" 


UNA  I,K  ITKRA  ANONIMA.  •• 

Giulio  si  rivol80  e  sforso  iu  signorii  do  Lnimay  ch« 
lo  vimirfiVtt  con  intcrosse. 

"Da  qunnio  tcinpo  eriivatc qui  ? ''  lo  doinando. 

"Non  mi  sovvengo  di  iivcrvi  vodulo  cntnuv." 

"Mi  trovHva  nellii  camera  di  vostra  madre,  sono  ar- 
rivata  appunto  al  momonto  in  cui  essa  iiscivu;  pcrcN  le 
ptTHone  innaniorato  non  vcdono,  nt-  ascoltuno;  nt'  mi 
otlcndo  doUa  vostra  distruzione.  Nou  potcto  uvcre 
rignardi  che  per  LKl. 

"Voi  dnnque  sap^-to  tuito!" 

''Si,  quest'  invito  h  stato  fatto  ffiil  da  quadro 
giomi."  Qucsta  e  una  i)iccola  conglura  traniata  dul 
signer  Saint-Gillcs  ed  -;)provata  da  raia  eugina.  N6 
r  uno,  ntj  1'  altra  vogliono  credere  che  il  vostro  amoro 
sia  sinceroetorte." 

»' E  voi  1 lo  crcdi'te  tale  1 " 

"lo?  "  avrei  dovuto  esscre  indovina,  dappoichJj  n^ 
voi  mi  avetc  scelto  per  contidente,  ne  vostra  madre  me 
no  ha  parlato.  Quello  ch'  io  so,  1'  ho  ppreso  dalla 
vostra  tristezza,  da  qualche  parola  raccolta  a  caso,  ed 
ascoltando." 

"  Se  foste  stata  consultata  che  cosa  avreste  risposto  {" 

"Avrei  ricusato  di  far  parte  di  quest'  alleanza." 

"Perchfe?" 

"Perchfe  gU  alleati  non  debbono  essere  traditi." 
"  Allora  voi  mi  compiangete  ? " 
"Se  non  sentissi  piet4  di  voi,  mi  vedreste  oggi  qui 
•coanto  a  voi  ? " 


I 


aiiTMi^.^«rf<ii-i-Tii^i»imiT«i^«tMM..jmt-^...>:.^.ji«..->f>^ 


100 


AN  ANONTTMOUS  LETTER, 


"Kind  Adelo,  I  am  sufforinp:;  yos,  I  am  unhappy." 
"And,  nevertheless,  you  h)ve  and  are  loved?" 
*' Without  ft  shadow  of  doubt." 
"What  else,  then,   do  you  want?     A  happiness 
which  only  depends  upon  yourself !     Listen  to  me  : 
I  always  thought  that  women,  better  than  men,  know 
how  to  love,  because  when  they  feel  a  strong  passion, 
they  do  not  look  at  the  difficulties  and  are  ready  to 
defy  death,  while  you  men  do  not  know  how  to  bear 
a  moment  of  embarrassment  or  of  shame." 

"  You  ai*e  right ;  I  am  feeble,  and  1  fear  to  bring 
affliction  to  my  mother." 

"Or,  perhaps,  to  repent  yourself  some  day?" 

"  Oh !  never,  never  ! If  you  knew  her !" 

"Speak  to  me,  then,  with  open  heart.  I  fear  that 
am  now  going  to  do  or  to  say  may  be 
ought  to  remain  neutral.     But  a  friend 


all  that  I 
wrong.     I 

will  be  allowed  to  ask  for  your  confidence,  when  an- 
other has  taken  upon  himself  the  right  of  torturing 
you  without  consulting  you.  Answer  me,  then.  Is 
she  beautiful  ? " 

"Without  her  I  cannot  live." 

"She  is  beautiful,  yes,  without  doubt,  but  I  meant 
to  say  remarkably  beautiful " 

"More  so  than  yourself,  my  cousin;"  but  he  soon 
added,  "at  least  I  believe  so." 

"Are  you  sure  of  it?  and  do  you  not  deceive  me? 
Has  she  spirit  T' 


•ffrfllilrllHIWiltiWltli.i 


ihappy." 
ed?" 

appinoss 
I  to  me : 
3n,  know 
passion, 
ready  to 
'  to  bear 


to  bring 


!" 

fear  that 
may  be 
a  friend 
vhen  an- 
orturing 
!ien.     Is 


I  meant 
he  soon 
live  me? 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  tOl 

"Buona  Adele  1     lo  soffro,  si  sono  disgiaziato." 

"Eppure  amate  e  siete  riamato  ! " 

'« Senza  1'  ombra  di  un  dubbio." 

*'Che  cosa  dunque  vi  manca?  Una  felicity  che 
dipende  solo  da  vol.  Ascoltatemi,  ho  sempre  creduto 
che  le  donne  sapessero  amaremegliodegliuoraini,per- 
chfe  allorquando  esse  hanno  nel  more  una  profonda 
passione  non  conoscono  ostacoli  e  sanno  sfidare  la 
morte;  mentre  che  vol  altri  uomini  non  sapete  sott'rire 
un  mon^.ento  di  vergogna  o  d'  imbarazzo." 

"  Avete  ragione,"  disse  Giulio,  "  sono  debole  e  temo 
di  afliiggere  niia  madre." 

"Ovvero  pentirvi  un  giorno." 

*'  Oh  !  mai  1  e  poi  mai ! Se  la  conosceste  I . 

"Su  via  parlatemi  a  cuoi-e  aperto.  Temo  bf.ne  che 
qnanto  dico  e  fo  in  questo  momento  sia  mai  fatto,  do- 
vrei  rimanere  neutrale.  Forse  h  lecito  ad  un'  arnica 
di  domandare  la  vostra  fiducia  allorquando  un  altro 
che  non  avete  consultato  si  h  assunto  il  diritto  di  tor- 
mentarvi.    Rispondetemi;  ^  essa  bella?" 

"Senza  di  lei  non  potr6  vivere." 

"Essa  h  bellal  si,  senza  dubbio,  per6  intendo  dire, 
bellissima,  bellissima ! " 

"Piiidivoi,  cugina,"  e  subito  aggiunse  "  aUneno 

cosi  credo." 

"Ne  siete  sicuro  e  non  ra'  ingannate.    Ha  essa  dello 

apirito?" 
«Moltis8imo,  unito   alia    semplicitA,  quello  spiri- 


» 


ft3Bt«iftrri!»iWWt"-«rtfl,«irtM..i 


102  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

"Very  much  indeed  and,  joined  with  simplicity,  that 
spirit  which  comes  from  the  heart,  like  youi-s,  cousin." 

"Pray  do  not  use  me  as  a  comparison,"  answered 
Adele,  smiling,  "and  I  am  not  questioning  you  about 
her  only  in  order  to  hear  her  praises.  After  all,  you 
love  her,  and  this  is  the  main  point.  Are  you  sure 
that  she  also  loves  you,  and  that  she  never  loved 
another?    Is  she  virtuous  ? " 

* 

"He  who  would  try  to  say  the  contrary,  must  prove 
his  word  or  I  should  have  his  life." 

"Oh,  friend!  if  your  heart  would  be  completely 
free  and  you  would  be  the  absolute  master  in  choosing 
a  wife,  could  you  dare  to  hope  to  have  in  her  united, 
talents,  spirit,  virtue  ?  and  because  you  have  been  so 
fortunate  as  to  find  such  a  woman  and  to  possess  such 
a  treasure,  you  spurn  it  1  And  what  for  ?  Julius, 
search  your  heart  Have  you  never  reproached  her 
with  the  love  you  have  inspired  in  her  ? " 

"  Can  you  judge  me  so  unjust  ?  No;  Fanny,  to  my 
eyes,  is  the  most  virtuous  woman  in  all  the  M^orld." 

"Marry  her,  then,  and  do  not  ask  me  for  advice." 

"I  shall  take  advice  only  from  myself,  my  good 
cousin.  My  present  embarrassment  lies  in  findinff  a 
way  to  break  this  projected  marriage." 

*'  It  is  your  own  fault  Why  have  you  not  spoken 
a  month  ago  ? " 

"I  am  well  decided  not  to  appear  this  evening,  but 
how  to  avoid  a  scandal  ? " 


n^ 


plicity,  that 
1*3,  cousin." 
'  answered 
;  you  about 
ter  all,  you 
•e  you  sure 
ever  loved 

must  prove 

completely 
in  choosing 
her  united, 
ive  been  so 
ossess  such 
•  'i  Julius, 
oached  her 

any,  to  my 
M^orld." 
L»r  advice." 
,  my  good 
Q  finding  a 

lot  spoken 


ening,  but 


UNA  LETTKnA  ANONIMA.  103 

to  che  proviene  dal  cuore,  come  il  vostro,  cugina." 

"Non  voglio  servirle  di  paragone,"  rispose  Adcle 
sorridendo,  "e  non  vi  parlo  di  lei,  perchfe  facciate  il 
mio  clogio.  In  somma  voi  I'  amate,  ecco  il  punto 
principtile.  Siete  poi  sicuro  ch'  cssa  vi  ami  e  che  non 
abbia  amato  alcun  altro  ?    E'  dessa  virtuosa? " 

"  Colui  che  volesse  sostcnero  il  contrario  dovrebbe 
provarmelo  aitrimenti  n'  esigerei  la  vita." 

"Oh,  amico!  se  il  vostro  cuore  fosse  completa- 
mente  libero,  e  se  foste  1'  arbitro  assoluto  di  sccgliervi 
una  sposa  non  osereste  spoi-are  di  trovare  in  essa  rin- 
nite  labeltA,  la  gioventii,  i  talcnti,  lo  spirito  e  la  virtii; 
e  perchfe  siete  stato  cosi  fortunato  di  porre  la  mano 
sopra  una  simile  donna  e  di  possedere  questo  tesoro, 
voi  lo  sdegnate.  E  per  qual  niotivo  ?  Giulio  scendet" 
in  voi  medesimo.  Non  le  aveto  mai  rimprovcrato 
r  amore  che  avctp  saputo  inspirarle  ? " 

''Potete  giudicarmi  cos\  ingiusto?  No,  agli  occhi 
miei  Fanny  h  la  donna  la  piii  virtuosa  del  mondo  in- 

tero." 

"Sposatela  dunque  e  non  mi  domandate  consiglio." 

"Prendero  consiglio  solo  da  me,  buona  cugina.  11 
mio  imbarazzo  in  questo  momento  consiste  nel  trovare 
un  mezzo  per  rompere  questa  progettata  unione." 

"Voi  stesso  ci  colpate.  Perchfe  non  parlare  un 
mese  fa," 

'"  Sono  deciso  di  non  comparire  questa  sera.  Come 
per6  evitare  uno  scandalo  ? " 


fl 


WIBWBiBSffSBSSSr? 


104  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

*'I  do  not  see  any  way.  The  rupture  ought  to 
come  from  the  countess,  not  from  you.  Were  I  you, 
I  would  not  worry  myself  until  to-night.  Yes,  on 
my  word.  Wlio  knows  but  some  good  angel  will 
watch  over  you  ?  Often,  just  when  we  feel  very  un- 
happy, we  find  ourselves  near  to  happiness.  Hope  ! 
these  moments  of  tranquillity  will  be  so  many  stolen 
from  future  grief,  and  perhaps  even  these  last  will 
not  come." 

Before  Julius,  who  shared  not  this  confidence,  could 
ask  her  what  cause  inspired  her  with  it,  the  drawing- 
room  door  opened  and  Mrs.  Vahibert  came  in.  She 
had  a  serious  and  preoccupied  mien,  and  was  crump- 
ling in  her  hand  a  letter  which  had  arrived  in  her 
absence  and  which  had  been  given  her  by  the  porter 
on  her  return. 

"My  son,"  she  said,  in  a  voice  which  hardly  con- 
cealed her  emotion,  "you  are  free  and  master  of  your 
evening.  Lady  Scpteuil  writes  me  that  she  is  not 
able  to  accept  my  invitation.  Send  a  servant  to  Mr. 
Saint-Gilles,  and,  if  he  is  at  home,  tell  him  to  call  as 
soon  as  possible,"  and  she  departed,  murmurino"  a 
few  words  that  her  son  was  not  able  to  understand. 

This  second  apparition,  so  diflferent  from  the  first, 
amazed  Julius.     Glancing  at  his  cousin,  he  said : 

"  Adele,  what  were  you  saying  a  little  while  ago ; 
that  the  rupture  ought  to  come  from  Mrs.  de  Septeuil  ? 


e  ouj^fht  to 
Vere  I  you, 
•  Yes,  on 
angel  will 
el  very  un- 
3.  Hope ! 
aany  stolen 
3e  last  will 

ence,  could 
le  drawing- 
e  in.  She 
ivas  crump- 
ved  in  her 
the  porter 

lardly  con- 
ter  of  your 
she  is  not 
ant  to  Mr. 
n  to  call  as 
rmuring  a 
lerstaud. 
Q  the  first, 
isaid: 
while  ago ; 
9  Septeuil? 


UNA  LF.TTERA  ANONUIA.  106 

"Non  ci  vedo  alcun  rimedio  Bisognerebbe  che  la 
rottura  provenisse  non  da  voi  ma  dalla  contessa.  Nei 
vostri  panni  fino  a  questa  sera  non  vorrei  tormenturmi. 
Oh  1  Per  Bacco !  Chi  sa  che  qualche  buon'  ungelo 
non  vegli  su  voi  1  Spesso  al  moniento  in  cui  ci  crediamo 
pill  infelici,ci  troviamo  invece  vicini  a  toccare  la  felicity. 
Sperate  I  Questi  momenti  di  quiete  saranno  altrcttanti 
strappati  al  ventui'o  dolorc,  e  forse  i  momenti  del  do- 
lore  ncppure  giungoranno." 

Prima  che  Giulio  il  quale  non  divideva  aflFatto  questa 
fiducia,  potesse  domandaro  ad  Adelc  qual  motivo 
gliela  inspiraese  la  porta  del  salone  si  apri,  e  la  signora 
Valabert  entro.  Essa  aveva  la  cera  seria  e  preoccu- 
pata  e  spiegazzava  nelle  mani  una  lettera  arrivata  nel 
tempo  della  sua  assenza  e  che  appunto  allora  le  era 
stata.  consegnata  dal  portinaio. 

"Figlio,"  disse  con  voce  che  a  stento  celava  la  sua 
emozione,  "  siete  libero  e  padrone  della  vostra  serata. 
La  signora  di  Septeuil  mi  acrive  di  non  potere  accet- 
tai*e  il  mio  invito.  Mandate  un  servo  a  casa  di  Saint- 
Gilles,  e  se  ^  in  casa,  fatelo  pregare  di  venire  da  me," 
e  si  albontan6  mormorando  poche  parole  che  suo 
figlici  non  pote  arrivare  a  comprendere. 

Questa  seconda  comparaa  cosi  diflercnte  dalla  prima 
aveva  strabiliato  Giulio.     Fissando  in  viso  sua  cugina : 

"  Adele  che  dicevate  poc'  anzi?  Sarebbe  d'  uopo 
che  la  rottura  venisse  da  parte  della  signora  di  ,Sep- 


lOH 


AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 


But  this  seems  a  true  rupture;  you,  perhaps,  were 
cognizant  of  it?" 

"I  had  hoped  for  it." 

"The  angel  who  was  watching  over  me  was  then 
yourself?" 

"  Hush  ! "  said  she,  "  be  silent ! " 

He  replied  in  a  low  voice  :  "But  how  happened  all 
thio  ?  Please  explain  yourself,  that  I  may  be  able  to 
thank  you." 

"  What  I  have  done  is  of  little  importance.  I  will 
tell  you  about  it  later,  if  you  will  be  so  good  as  not 
to  reproach  me  with  having  guessed  what  you  had  not 
told  mc.  Now  let  us  pai't — not  a  word  more,  not  a 
sign  nor  a  k)ok  of  intelligence.  1  saw  you  so  un- 
happy, here  is  the  excuse  and  explanation  of  my  con- 
duct ;  to  morrow,  or  in  a  few  days,  you  will  entreat 
your  mother,  and  she,  perhaps,  will  be  moved  by  your 
prayer.  Do  not  waste  your  time  with  me,  go  to  her; 
go,  friend,  and  love  her  always  because  she  is  worthy 
of  you.     Good-bye." 

Mi-s.  Valabert's  pride  had  been  offended  by  the 
refusal  of  the  countess;  and  the  latter  was  too  proud 
to  go  back.  All  the  diplomacy  of  Mr.  Saint-Gilles 
failed  to  again  bring  forth  the  negotiations.  Mrs.  de 
Launay,  fearing  sooner  or  later  to  be  obliged  to  take 
sides  in  these  family  discussions,  went  into  the  country 
for  a  few  days,  to  the  residence  of  a  friend  of  Julius' 
mother. 


mmm 


Vkw^i*..yitj/;,  - 


rhaps,  were 


le  was  then 


nppencd  all 
y  bo  able  to 

ice.  I  will 
^oud  as  not 
f'ou  had  not 
iiore,  not  a 
you  so  un- 
of  my  con- 
ivill  entreat 
'cd  by  your 
go  to  her; 
e  is  worthy 

ded  by  the 
i  too  proud 
Saint-Gilles 
i.  Mrs.  do 
ged  to  take 
the  country 
d  of  Julius' 


'V^ 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  107 

teuil,  ma  qucsto  sombra  una  vera  rottura.     Lo  sape- 
vate  forsc  ? " 

"  Lo  sperava." 

"  L'  angelo  che  vegliava  su  me  oravate  dunque  vol  ?" 

«'  Zitto,"  gli  disse,   "  taceto  I " 

Egli  riprese  a  voce  bassa : 

"Ma  come  h  accaduto  tutto  cio!  Oh,  spiegatevi 
perch'  io  possa  ringraziarvcne." 

'*  Cio  che  ho  fatto  e  cosa  di  poco  valore,  ve  lo  dir6 
pill  tardi,  so  non  mi  rimprovererete  di  avere  indovi- 
nato  un  dolore  ehe  non  mi  avevate  confidato.  Adesso 
separiaraoci.  Non  una  parola  di  piu,  non  un  cenno, 
non  uno  sguardo  d'  intelligonza.  Vi  ho  veduto  tanto 
iiifelice !  Ecco  la  scusa  della  mia  condotta,  domani 
fra  qualche  giorno  preghereto  vostra  madre  e  for- 
86  le  vostre  preghiere  la  commoveranno.  Non  per- 
dete  il  tempo  meco,  andate  jresso  di  lei,  andate, 
amico,  ed  amatela  sempre  dacche  e  degna  di  vol.  A 
rivedcrci.'" 

L'  orgoglio  della  signora  Valabert  era  state  offeso 
dal  rifiuto  della  contessa  e  quest'  ultima  era  troppo  su- 
perba  per  ritornare  sul  fatto.  Tutta  la  diplomazia  del 
signor  Saint-Giiles  non  pote  riescire  a  riappicare  le 
trattative.  La  signora  do  La.may,  temendo  senza 
dubbio  di  vedersi  costretta  presto  o  tardi  di  prendere 
partito  in  queste  discussioni  di  famiglia  and6  a  passare 
alcuui  giorui  alia  villoggiatura  in  casa  di  un'  arnica 
della  madre  di  Giulio, 


i 


108 


AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 


Julius  was  not  able  immediately  to  obtain  the  con- 
sent he  asked  for.  Every  time  Mrs.  Valabert  wiw 
moved  by  her  son's  i)niyers,  Saint-Gilles,  who  had 
considored  as  his  own  business  the  rupture  of  this 
marriage,  reproached  her  with  hor  feel)leness.  Saintr 
Gilles  had  not  been  able  to  put  in  execution  his 
first  scheme  of  addressing  himself  to  Fanny,  because 
Julius  was  continually  with  her.  Finally,  frightened 
at  .the  anxiety  and  agitation  of  her  son,  Mrs.  Vala- 
bert yielded  on  condition  that  she  should  not  see  her 
daughter-in-law.  Julius,  at  about  twenty  leagues 
from  Paris,  owned  a  villa  which  was  comprised  in 
his  father's  estate.  The  interesting  condition  of  Fanny 
not  permitting  him  to  present  her  in  soc* oty,  he  had 
resolved  to  take  her  to  this  little  country  residence. 
In  order  to  announce  to  her  the  day  fixed  for  the  mar- 
riage and  make  known  to  her  his  last  arrangements, 
he  went  as  usual  to  the  house  in  l^'urstemberg  street. 

Occupied  with  his  thoughts  and  absent-minded,  he 
was  walking  rapidly.  Just  as  he  was  nearing  the  door 
of  Fanny's  house,  he  rushed  upon  a  young  man  com- 
ing from  it.  While  ringing  the  bell,  his  heart  was 
throbbing.  He  reproached  himself  for  the  injurious 
suspicions  continually  torturing  him  in  spite  of  his 
love.  On  entering,  it  seemed  to  him  that  Marion  was 
confused  and  that  Fanny  blushed  when  he  narrated  his 
encounter,  but  he  ended  by  being  ashamed  of  his  jeal- 
ous suspicions,  and  soon  restored  by  Fanny'is  tendei* 


■HMMMBtn** 


UNA  I>ETTERA  ANONTMA. 


100 


in  the  con- 
iabert  was 
who  hntl 
re  of  this 
98.  Siiint,- 
Bution  his 
y,  because 
frightened 
yirs.  Vala- 
ot  see  her 
:y  leagues 
(iprised  in 
I  of  Fanny 
ty,  he  had 
residence. 
)r  the  mar- 
ngements, 
erg  street, 
linded,  he 
g  the  door 
man  corn- 
heart  was 
J  injurious 
)ite  of  his 
[arion  was 
irrated  his 
of  his  jeal- 
ly'is  tendei- 


Questi  non  aveva  potuto  ottenere  suhito  il  const'ii-so 
die  iloniantlava.  Tutte  le  v<>Uc'  chc  la  hignora  Vala- 
bert  si  iaaciava  intenmi-e  dalle  preghiere  del  liglio, 
Saint-Gilles,  ch'  erasi  fatto  un  caso  di  coseicnza  della 
rottura  di  questo  matrimonio  lo  rimprovcrava  la  sua 
debolezza.  Saint-Gilles  non  poteva  porro  in  t'sccu- 
zione  la  sua  priniitiva  idea  di  dirigcisi  a  Fanny  a  mo- 
tivo  che  Giulio  rimanova  continuamente  con  lei.  Spa- 
ventjita  in  ultimo  dalle  snianie  e  dall'  agitazione  del 
figlio,  la  signora  Valabert  ccdcttc  a  condizione  di  non 
vodere  la  nuora.  Giulio  a  circa  venti  legh<!  da  Parigi 
possedeva  una  cam{)agna  che  gli  provenia  dalla  fortuna 
del  padre.  La  posizione  interessante  di  Fanny  non 
pernicttendogli  di  presenturla  in  socletA.  aveva  deciso 
condurla  in  qucUa  villa.  Per  annunziare  a  Fanny 
r  epoca  del  matrimonio  e  comunicarle  le  sue  ultime 
disposizioni  come  al  consueto  si  rec6  uella  via  Furstem- 
berg. 

Preoccupato  dei  suoi  pensieri  camminava  soUecito 
e  distratto.  Al  momento  in  cui  era  per  giungere  alia 
porta  della  casa  di  Fanny  si  urtA  con  un  giovine  che 
appunto  ne  usciva.  Tirando  il  campanello  il  cuore 
gli  batteva  fortemcnte,  e  si  rimproverava  gl'  ingiusti 
sospetti  che  a  dispetto  del  suo  amore  incessantementc 
lo  tortui'avano.  Nell'  entrare  gli  sembr6  che  Marian- 
na  fosse  turbata  e  che  Fanny  arrossisse  allorchfe  ei 
raccontava  loro  il  suoincontro;  ma  fin\  col  vergognai-si 
di  quel  gelosi  sospetti,  e  presto  riassicurato  da  tenere  ed 


I 

Jo* 


110  AN  ANONYMOUS  LKTTFlt 

and  nffectionate  looks,  he  forgot  ull,  to  think  only  of 
the  near  future  which  promised  to  be  so  cahu  imd 
happy.  The  villa  to  whirl'  lie  intended  to  take  his 
wife  had  not  been  inhabited  for  three  years.  It  was 
necessary  to  put  it  in  order  to  sojourn  in.  It  was 
agreed  that  Julius  should  go  alone  and  remain  absent 
from  Paris  for  eight  days,  the  time  needed  to  com- 
plete the  preparations.  From  the  moment  when  they 
hud  begun  to  love  each  other,  this  was  their  first  sepor 
ration,  and  nithough  it  would  not  liistlong,  the  parting 
was  as  paint'-.d  us  if  they  were  never  to  meet  again. 

On  his  reiurn  to  Paris,Julius  Vulabert  received  the 
anonymous  letter  copied  by  Ternisien,  the  address  of 
which,  as  stated  in  the  first  chapter,  had  been  written 
by  a  different  person. 


IV. 

THE  TlilAL. 

Seated  in  the  same  room  where  we  saw  her  before, 
Fanny  let  her  eyes  sadly  wander  from  the  window 
to  the  door,  listening  to  every  noise  and  showing  in 
her  features  fear  rather  than  hope.  Do  you  remem- 
ber with  what  joy  she  had  been  exhilui-ated  when 
Julius  brought  her  the  announcement  of  his  re- 
solve i     Why,  instead,  do  we  find  her  so  sad  to-day  ^ 


wmmmk 


1 


nk  only  of 
cnlm  mid 
to  tuko  his 
'8.  It  WHS 
1.  It  was 
lain  absent 
id  to  com- 
when  they 
first  aepor 
[le  parting 
t  a<^ain. 
ceivcd  the 
iddress  of 
3n  written 


er  before, 
I  window 
owing  in 
u  remem- 
ied  when 
I  his  re- 
d  to-day » 


ssswissaw^^ 


i 


UNA  LBTTERA  ANONIMA.  HI 

affetttiose  ocohiato  dimentic^  tutto  per  pcnsare  al  pros- 
simo  avvenire  che  promcttcva  di  eHscre  cosi  calmo  e 
felice.  La  villa  nella  quale  dovova  condurro  ma  mo- 
glie  era  rimasta  inabitata  giA,  datre  anni:  abl)i8ognava 
metterla  in  stato  da  polervi  soggiornare.  Fu  conve- 
nuto  che  Giulio  partirebbe  solo  e  restorobbe  assente  da 
Parigi  per  otto  giorni  tempo  necessario  per  coniplc- 
tarev/gli  ultimi  preparativi.  Dal  nioincnto  in  cui  ave- 
vano  cominciato  ad  amai-si  questiv  era  la  loro  prima 
8eparazione,ed  abbenchf")  di  breve  durata  essa  fu  mesta 
e  dolorosa  quasi  ohe  non  avessero  dovuto  pid  rivo- 

dersi.  ' 

Al  suo  ritomo  in  Parigi  Giulio  Valabcrt  ricevette  la 
kttera  anonima  copiata  da  Temisien  e  1'  indirizzo  della 
quhle  come  venne  detto  nel  primo  capitolo.  era  stato 
soritto  dft  una  mauo  differente. 


IV. 

L'  ESPERIENZA. 

Nella  stesea  camera  ove  altre  volte  la  vodemmo, 
Fanny  assisa  lasciava  enare  tristamcnto  il  suo  sguardo 
dalla  finestra  alia  porta,  attenta  al  benchfe  minimo  ru- 
more  e  mostrando  suUa  sua  tisionomia  timore  anzich^ 
speranza.  Vi  ricordate  da  quale  gioia  foss'  ella  ine- 
briata  allorchfe  Giulio  le  aveva  annunziato  la  presa 
risoluzione}    Perchfe  oggi   la  troviamo  invece  cosi 


^12  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTKR. 

Hi'cuuso  tho  npiiror  tlir  time  appointed  for  her  nup- 
tials approiiclie^,  the  more  she  feels  her  heart  op 
pressed  by  a  t'ut^l  [)i«'.s(.nliuiciit.  Eight  days  had 
already  passed  hiiuo  Julius'  departure,  and  <hifl  ab- 
sence, the  liist  ,slu!  exp»ii(-M(cd,  had  left  her  alone 
with  the  fears  of  her  heart  without  defense,  and  at  the 
same  time  had  exposed  her  to  some  intrigues  which 
had  come  to  poison  her  solitude. 

The  day  following  the  departure  of  Julius,  a  gen- 
tleman whom  she  remembered  to  have  seen  previously 
at  the  house  of  her  young  pupil,  Miss  SaintGilles, 
had  called  on  her  and  without  preamble  or  formality 
had  spoken  to  her  of  the  schemes  of  Julius'  family,  of 
the  brilliant  hopes  destroyed  by  his  love  for  her,  of 
the  grief  that  every  one  had  felt  and  tho  pain  with 
which  they  had  consented  to  this  union,  and  finally  he 
mentioned  a  last  hope  placed  in  Fanny's  delicacy,  that 
she  might  persuade  Julius  to  come  himself  to  consent 
to  what  was  wished  from  him.     Saint^Gilles  did  not 
forget  to  adorn  his  speech  with  flattering  words  and 
praises  :  Fanny  to  be  esteemed  by  everybody;  no  one 
would  be  surprised  to  hear  that  she,  herself,  learning 
of  the  existing  difficulties,   had  sacrificed  her  own 
love  to  the  future  happiness  of  Julius;  that  all  knew 
her  to  be  so  unselfish  as  not  to  hesitate  before  such  a 
sacrifice.     They  knew  also  that  she  was  so  sincere  in 
her  love  that  she  would  prefer  the  interests  of  Julius 


her  nup- 
eart  op 
lays  hud 
*hiH  a\> 
ev  ulone 
1(1  at  the 
M  which 

f,  a  gcn- 
eviously 
it-Gilles, 
wmality 
mily,  of 

hor,  of 
tin  with 
imlly  he 
icy,  that 
consent 
did  not 
ids  and 

no  one 
earning 
er  own 
11  knew 

such  a 
icere  in 

Julius 


UNA  LRTTERA  ANONIMA.  118 

afflitta?  Peroht'",  quaiito  nuipgiornicnto  veilcva  approa- 
Hiniursi  l'  epoca  del  suo  nuitrinioiiio,  tanto  piii  st-iitivu 
il  suo  cuore  oppresso  da  \m  fatalo  presentliiu'nto. 
Erano  giiV  scorsi  gli  otto  piornl  dacchi)  Giulio  era  par- 
tito  0  quest'  asH(!nza  la  prinuula  lei  softerta  1'  aveva 
gettata  sola  senza  difcwa  ncllo  tropu'.azioni  del  suo 
cuore  e  conteinporaneamcuto  1'  aveva  esposta  a  taluni 
intrif^hi  ch' erano  vemitl  ad  iivvelenare  lasuasolitudine. 
L'  indomani  della  piutenza  di  Giulio  un  gentiluoi  o 
ch'  essa  sovvenivasi  di  aver  veduto  .iltra  volta  nel  hp 
lone  doi  genitori  della  sua  giovine  t  jolare  SaintrGille 
si  era  presentato  a  lei  e  senzu  prou  iboli,  nh  cn'imunui 
le  aveva  parlato  dei  progetti  della  famiglia  dl  Giulio, 
delle  brillanti  speranze  che  il  suo  anioro  per  loi  lucva 
distrutto,  dell'  afflizione  chc  se  ne  riscntiva,  del  doloro 
col  quale  si  era  dato  il  consenso  alia  progettata  uniono 
e  finalmente  di  un'  ultima  speranza  riposta  nella  doli- 
catezza  di  Fanny,  perchfe  pereuadcsse  Giulio  a  rien- 
trare  in  sh  ed  acconsentire  a  quanto  da  lui  si  deside- 
rava.  Saint-Gille^*  non  diment'c<^  di  adornnro  questo 
discorso  con  paiolo  lusinghiere  ad  elogi :  Fanny  essere 
tenuta  da  tutti  in  grande  stima,  nessuno  si  sorprende- 
rebbe  nel  vedere  com'  ella  nietiesima  istrutta  delle  esi- 
stenti  difficoltil  averse  siiputo  sagrificare  k  sua  passiono 
air  Hvvenire  della  felicibV  di  Giulio;  cono^cei-si  egual- 
mente  essere  ella  cosV  disinteressata  da  non  esitare 
in  questo  sacrificio.  ed  essere  cos!  sincera  nel  suo 
am  ore  da  far  precedere  gl'  interessi  di  Giulio  ai  pro- 


^'-itms. . 


114  AN  ANONYMOUS  LBTTEK. 

to  her  own.  All  these  things  had  been  spoken  cau- 
tiously but  with  a  tone  in  which  one  could  easily  per- 
ceive the  skepticism  of  a  worldly  man,  ready  to  deny 
every  kind  of  true  and  sublime  affection.  There  still 
remained  the  last  persuasive,  that  of  pecuniary  com- 
pensation in  exchange  for  so  many  destroyed  hopes. 
Although  Saint-Gilles  had  relied  very  much  upon  the 
strength  of  this  argument,  he  dare  not  speak  of  it. 
Fanny's  demeanor  had  made  such  an  impression  as 
to  prevent  him  from  uttering  the  words,  "pecuniary 
coinpenmtlon.^'  Saint-Gilles  took  leave  without  re- 
cei\ing  a  positive  answer,  but  obtained  from  her  a 
promise  to  let  him  know  her  decision. 

The  following  day,  after  a  night  of  wakefulness 
and  fever,  she  sent  him  a  note  containing  these  sim- 
ple words  :  "  Address  yourself  to  Julius.^'  Thus  the 
negotiations  were  sent  again  to  the  same  field  on  which 
he  had  always  been  beaten.  These  attempts,  this  ap- 
peal to  her  generosity  and  this  exaggerated  picture  of 
Mrs.  Valiibert's  grief  destroyed  Fanny's  confidence  by 
showing  the  present  full  of  struggles  and  dangers, 
the  future  dark  and  uncertain.  For  the  first  time  she 
paused  to  ponder  on  the  intrigues  and  plots  of  every 
kind  which  a  powerful  and  ambitious  family  might 
organize  against  her.  She  had  been  unable  to  give 
a  very  clear  answer  to  Mr.  Saint-Gilles,  because  ^he 


■laPi'j^iJtJJiiywg.gs-ifeiifeA'-ig.- 


.Yaji'fai-  i.p.6v,.j, 


tTNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA, 


115 


ken  cau- 
sily  per- 
to  deny 
ere  still 
iry  com- 
[  hopes, 
pon  the 
k  of  it. 
ission  as 
Guniary 
lout  re- 
<x  her  a 

efulness 
3se  sira- 
hns  the 
a  which 
this  ap- 
cture  of 
ence  by 
angers, 
ime  she 
f  every 
7  might 
to  give 
'Use  @he 


prii.     Tutto  questo  era  dotto  con  precnuzione,  ma  con 
nn  fare  in  cui  scorgevasi  lo    stctticismo  dell'  uomo 
di  mondo  pronto  a  negare   qualunqiie  siasi  atfetto 
vero  e  sublime.      Rimaneva  un  ultimo    argomento, 
quello,  cioe,  del  risai-cimento  pecuniario   in    cambio 
di  tante  deluse   spevauzo.     Quantunque  da  quest'  ar- 
gomento   egli    si    fosse    ripromesso    un    gran    suc- 
cesso,  pure  ei  non  oso  presentarlo.     II  contegno  di 
Fanny  aveva  fatto  su  lui  una  cosi  grande  imprcssione 
da  impodire  che  questa  parola,  risarcimento  pecunia- 
rio escisse  dalla  sua  bocca.     Saint-Gilles  si  congedo 
senz'  avere  ricevuto  definitivai-ispo8ta,limitandosi  solo 
a  pregarla  di  volergli  fare  conoscere  la  sua  decisione. 
L'  indomani  dopo  una  notte  di  veglia  e  di  febbre, 
Fanny  spedi  a  Saint-Gilles  im  laconico  biglietto  nel 
quale  trovavansi  queste  semplici  parole.     JDirigetevi 
a  GiuUo.     Di  tal  fatta  il  negoziatore  veniva  rinvialo 
Bul  terrene  sul  quale  era  gi;\  stato  constat,  .emente 
battuto.     Questi  tentativi,  quest'  appello  alia  sua  gene- 
rosity, questo   quadro  un  po'   esagcrato  del    diapia- 
cere  della  signora  Valabert,  avevano  distrutto  la  sicu- 
rezza  di  Fanny,  mostrandole  il  presente  pieno  di  peri- 
pezie  e  lotte,  e  1'  avvenire  incei-to  ed  oscuro.     Per  la 
prima  volta  si  fermo  a  riflettere  sugl'  intrighi  e  suUe 
macchinazioni  di  ogni  specie  che  una  famiglia  potente 
ed  ambiziosa  poteva  organizzaro  contro  di  lei.     Essa 
non  aveva  potuto  dare  una  risposta  chiara  al  signor 
Saint-Gilles,   giacchfe  non  aveva  osato  confessare  a 


^^ms: 


ll<i  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEtt. 

daro  not  reveal  to  this  railer  the  sacred  motive  which 
made  it  a  duty  for  lier  to  resist  his  insinuations. 

"If,   instead  of  this  man,"   she  said  to  herself, 
"  Julius'  mother,  with  eyes  full  of  tears,  had  come 
in  pei-son  to  me,  I  would  have  thrown  myself  at  her 
feet  and  spoken  thus  :   '  Pity,  and  do  not  despise  me? 
If  it  were  only  a  question  of  my  happiness,  I  would 
sacrifice  it  without  hesitation;    if    I    had  only  to 
renounce  Julius,  although  I  love  him  with  all  the 
strength  of  my  soul,  I  would  depart,  I  would  hide 
myself,  and  neither  you  nor  he  nor  any  living  pei-son 
would  hear  of  me  again.     Perhaps,  finally,  he  would 
be  able  to  forget  me  and  might  some  day  be  happy, 
and  you,  enjoying  his  happiness,  would  think  of  me 
absent,  and  in  your  heart  thank  me,  and  this  thought 
will  bring  only  consolation.     But,  alas  I  if  I  should 
act  in  such  a  manner,  another  voice  would  rise  to  ac- 
cuse me,  a  being  dear  to  me,  whom  I  must  love  as  you, 
madam,  love  your  son,  would  ask  of  me  an  account 
of  a  sacrifice  which  would  deprive  him  of  a  name, 
of  family,  of  a  future,  and  you,  yourself,  who  are  so 
good,  would  you  advise  me  to  become  a  bad  mother? '" 
Carried  away  by  her  grief  for  an  instant,  she  thought 
of  going  to  Mrs.  Valabert,  to  declare  all  to  her  and 
place  herself  under  her  protection,  but  was  prevented 
by  shame.     If  she  had  been  acquainted  with  Mrs.  de 


^^UM 


-^ 


tive  which 
ions. 

0  herself, 
had  come 
4el£  at  her 
Bspise  mer 
,  I  would 

1  only  to 
th  all  the 
ould  hide 
ng  pereon 

he  would 
be  happy, 
ink  of  me 
is  thought 

I  should 
rise  to  ac- 
veasyou, 
n  account 

a  name, 
lio  are  so 
nother?'" 
e  thought 
)  her  and 
jrevented 
1  Mrs.  de 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  HI 

questo  beffardo  il  motivo  segreto  che  le  faceva  un  da 
vere  di  resistere  alle  sue  insinuazioni. 

"Se  invece  di  quest' uomo,"  diceva  essa,  "lama- 
dre  di  Giulio  versando  lagrime  amare  fosse  venuta  da 
me,  mi  sarei  gettata  ai  suoi  piedi  e  le  avrei  detto:  Ab- 
biate  pietA  di  me  e  non  mi  disprezzate;  se  si  trattasse 
solamente  della  mia  feUcit^  senz'  esitare  la  sagrifiche- 
reijse  dovessi  solo  rinunziare  aGiulio,ebbene,  quantun- 
que  io  lo  ami  con  tutta  la  forza  doU'  anima  mia,  fuggi- 
vei;  ini  nasconderei,  e  ne  voi,  ne  egli,  nh  anima  viva 
udrebbe  piu  parlare  di  me.     Fors'  egli  giungerebbe  a 
dimcnticai-mi  ed  un  giomo  sarebbe  felice  e  voi  goden- 
do  della  sua  felicity  penseresto  a  me  assente,  e  nel  vos- 
tro  cuore  mi  ringimiereste,  e  quest'  idea  formerebbe 
la  mia  consolazione.    Ma,  ahimfe!  ove  agissi  in  tal 
modo  un'  altra  voce  si  leverebbe  ad  accusarmi.     Un 
ente  ben  caro  e  ch'  io  debbo  amare  come  voi,  signora 
amate  vostro  figlio,  mi  domanderebbe  conto  di  questo 
sacrificio  che  lo  priverebbe  di  un  nome;  di  una  fami- 
glia  di  un  avvenirc,  e  voi  medesima,  voi  che  siete  cos! 
buona  mi  consigliereste  voi  di  diventare  una  cattiva 

madre  ? " 

Esaltata  dal  dolorele  venne  in  mente  di  recarsi  dalla 
signora  Valabert,  di  confessarle  il  tutto  e  di  mettersi 
Botto  la  sua  protezione,  ma  fu  truttenuta  dalla  ver- 
gogna.  Se  avesse  conosciuto  la  signora  de  Launay, 
quell'  amica  s\  sincera  e  s\  indulgente  della  quale  Giu- 
Uo  le  aveva  raccontato  il  generoao  modo  di  procedere, 


:V 


iraM-sb**-? 


■ijmm^- 


I 


118  AN  ANONYMOUS  tBtlER, 

Launay,  that  friend  so  sincere  and  indulgent,  whose 
generous  act  Julius  had  narrated  to  her,  she  would 
have  confided  in  her  and  thought  hei>»-!£  safe.  Tim- 
idity detained  her.  • 

Thus  for  eight  mortal  days,  alone,  a  prey  to  her 
fears,  she  saw  no  other  help  than  Julius,  who  was  ab- 
sent, and  whose  weakness  of  character  she  dreaded 
How  many  varied  tortures  afflicted  her  mind,  always 
disposed  to  exaggerate  evil  1     The  humiliation  she  ex- 
pected and  the  repenlnnce  that  Julius  would  perhaps 
experience  when  his  passion  had  al)ated,  would  leave 
him  under  the  ascendancy  of  his  mother.     Perhaps 
also    that  jealousy  which  he  was  unable  to  control 
would  someday  bring  him  to  suspect  her  who  had 
not  known  how  to  resist  his  seductions  because,  stran-e 
as  It  18,  ladies  are  always  punished  for  their  sins  bv 
the  same  persons  for  whose  sake  they  sin,  and  who 
gather  in  the  fruit  of  their  crime. 

In  this  manner,  after  the  infatuation  of  her  passion 
Fanny  wjis  experiencing  the  first  trial  of  life  and  in' 
st^ad  of  peace  and  happiness  in  her  soul, 'she  met 
doubts  and  fears  at  every  step. 

As  a  last  refuge,  there  remained  to  her  the  remem 
brance  and  thought  of  Julius.  She  plunged  so  deeply 
into  It  as  to  forget  everything  else.  Had  she  been 
possersed  of  cooler  blood,  or,  better,  if  she  had  had  a 
more  complete  knowledge  of  evil  and  of  the  advantage 
that  slander  takes  of  every  circumstance  even  the  most 


omniiiiMmiiii 


snt,  whose 
she  would 
ife.    Tim- 

3y  to  her 
lo  wjis  ab- 
dreaded. 
d,  always 
)n  she  ex- 
i  perhaps 
uld  leave 
Perhaps, 
0  control 
who  had 
i,  strange 
i*  sins  by 
and  who 

passion, 

and,  in- 

she  met 

remem- 
0  deeply 
he  been 
>d  had  a 
vantage 
be  most 


TWA  LBTTERA  ANONIMA.  H^ 

ella  si  sarebbe  confidata  a  lei,  e  ai  sarebbe  creduta 
salva.     La  timiditi  la  trattenne. 

In  tal  modo  per  lo  spazio  di  otto  mortal!  giomi, 
sola,  abbandonata  ai  suoi  timori.essa  non  vedeva  altro 
appoggio  se  non  Giulio,  il  quale  trovavasi  lontano  da 
lei,  e  del  quale  ella  paventava  la  debolezza  di  carattere. 
Quante  diverse  altre  torture  agitavano  la  sua  anima  pro- 
pensa  ad  esagerarsi  il  male !  L'  umiliazione  che  I'aspet- 
tava^^il  pentimento  che  forse  Giulio  potrebbe  risentire 
allorch^  estinta  la  sua  passione  si  troverebbe  sotto 
r  ascendente  della  madre?    Fors'  anche  quella  diffi- 
dente  gelosia  ch'  el  non  aveva  la  forza  di  domare  lo 
condurrebbe  un  giomo  a  sospettare  di  lei  che  non  aveva 
saputo  resistere  alia  sue  seduzioni;  imperocch^  cosa 
strana,  le  donne  sono  quasi  sempre  punite  delle  loro 
colpe  dalla  persona  medosima  in  favore  della  quale 
peccarono  e  che  raccolse  il  fruttc  del  loro  peccato. 

,Ecco  in  qual  modo  dopo  1'  ebbrezza  della  passione, 
Fanny  faceva  la  prima  esperieuza  della  vita  ed  invece 
della  feliciti  e  tranquillity  d'  animo  ad  ogni  passo 
s'  imbatteva  in  dubbi  e  timori. 

Quale  unico  rifugio  le  rimaneva  il  ricordo  ed  il  pen- 
siero  di  Giulio,  ed  essa  talmente  s'  immerse  in  questo 
da  non  sapere  pensare  ad  altro.  Se  avesse  posseduto 
unamaggiore  dose  di  sangue  freddo,  o  meglio  se  mag- 
giormente  avesse  conosciuto  il  male,  ed  avesse  pensato 
al  danno  ed  al  partito  cho  la  calunnia  sa  trarre  dalle 
minime   circostanze    anche    le   piii   equivoche,  fjsa 


^mmi.--: 


120  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

equivocal,  she  would  have  tried  by  anticipation  to 
explain  the  unhappy  circumstances  which  in  case  of 
need  could  have  borne  testimony  against  her  reputa- 
tion.  She  would  have  felt  the  necessity  of  giving  an 
account,  and  of  explaining  another  mysterious  visit 
she  had  received  after  that  of  Saint-Gilles.  Her  love 
made  her  forget  all  this,  her  only  thought  being  of 
her  Julius. 

At  last,  as  we  have  said,  the  eight  days  of  Julius' 
absence  were  past.  She  was  waiting  for  him,  when 
she  was  aroused  by  a  sharp  pull  at  the  door-bell. 

"Here  he  comes  1 »  she  cried,  and  ran  to  the  door. 

Julius  entered. 

Fanny's  joy  was  of  short  duration ;  Julius  seemed 
not  the  iame  man.  His  face  was  fearfully  pale  his 
eyes  glaring,  his  lips  trembling.  She  tried  to  speak 
but  courage  failed,  and  in  silence  she  stood  gazing  at 
him.  Without  uttering  a  single  word,  he  shut  the 
door  and  hurriedly  crossed  the  room.  Fanny  fol- 
lowed him. 

Julius  cast  at  her  a  dreadful  glance,  which  seemed 
to  penetrate  her  heart.     One  of  his  hands,  placed  un- 
der his  coat,  was  agitated  by  a  convulsive  movement 
With  the  other  he  seized  Fanny  by  the  arm,  forcing 
her  to  remain  at  his  side. 

"What  ails  you?    Julius,  you  frighten  me."     • 


wmm 


sipation  to 
in  case  of 

her  reputa- 
giving  an 

irious  visit 
Her  love 

t  being  of 

of  Julius' 
lira,  when 
>bell. 
the  door. 

us  seemed 
pale,  his 

to  speak, 

gazing  at 
shut  the 

anny  fol- 

'h  seemed 
laced  un- 
ovement. 
I,  forcing 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  1 91 

avrebbe  anticipatainente  cercato  di  salvare  le  infelioi 
apparenze  che  in  cjiso  di  bisogno  potevano  tcstiino- 
niare  contro  di  lei;  avrebbe  pi'ovatala  neces^it^  di  dar 
conto  e  di  spiegare  im'  altra  visita  misteriosa  che  aveva 
ricevuto  dopo  quella  di  Saint-Gilles.  II  suo  amore  le 
faceva  dimenticare  tutwO  il  rcsto  e  solo  si  occupava  del 
suo  Giulio. 

Finalmente,  come  gik  dicemmo,  gli  otto  giorni 
dell'  assenza  di  Giulio  erano  trascorsi.  Essa  lo  aspet- 
tava.     Una  violenta  tirata  di  canipanello  la  scosse. 

"Eccolo!"  cUa  grido  e  si  preoipit6  vcvso  la  porta. 

Giulio  entro. 

La  gioia  di  Fanny  fu  di  breve  durata.  Giulio  non 
sembrava  piu  lo  stesso.  II  suo  viso  era  orribilmente 
pallido,  i  suoi  occhi  lampoggiavano,  le  sue  labbra  tre- 
mavano,  Essa  tent6  di  parlure,  non  n'  ebbe  la  forza  e 
silenziosa  si  ristetta  a  contemplarlo.  Senza  pronun- 
ziare  un  dctto,  Giulio  chiuse  la  porta  e  rapidamente 
traverso  la  stanza.     Fanny  gli  tenne  diotro. 

Giulio  le  gett6  una  terribile  occhiata  che  sembrava 
volesse  penetrare  nel  profondo  del  suo  cuore.  Una 
delle  sue  mani  passata  sotto  1'  abito  era  agiUita  da  un 
convulso  movimento ;  coll'  alti'a  mano  egli  afferr6 
Fanny  pel  braccio  contringendola  a  rimanere  accanto 
alui. 

Queir  occhiata  ma  sopratutto  quel  silenzio  era  spa- 
ventoso. 

♦ '  Mio  Dio,  che  avete  mai  I    Giulio  voi  mi  fate  paura. " 


122  AN  ANONITMOUS  LETTEB. 

"Sit  down,"  he  answered  with  a  gloomy  and 
threatening  voice- 
She  sat  down  mechanically,  subdued  by  that  com- 
mand and  the  gesture  by  which  it  was  accompanied. 

Julius  had  made  an  unspeakable  effort  to  overcome 
the  emotion  which  oppressed  him.  He  was  no  longer 
able  to  restrain  himself.  For  a  few  moments  he  was 
silent,  as  if  collecting  himself  to  enjoy  at  his  leisure 
the  continually  increasing  agitation  of  the  unfortunate 
Fanny.  Then,  without  even  ceasing  to  stare  at  her, 
and  as  if  he  wished  to  test  her,  he  coldly  and  briefly 
said  : 

*'  So,  then,  you  have  deceived  me  I " 

The  poor  girl,  dumb  with  amazement,  threw  herself 
back.  In  her  turn  she  felt  the  words  dying  on  her 
lips,  and  her  voice  strangled  in  her  throat. 

Julius,  who  yet  held  her  by  the  hand,  and  who  saw 
her  cast  down  by  such  an  unexpected  accusation, 
shook  her  fiercely,  and  Avith  a  tone  full  of  rage,  con- 
tinued :  "  Answer !  answer  me  1 " 

Vainly  he  endeavored  to  awaken  her  out  of  that 
dreadful  dream.  She  answered  no  mure,  inasmuch  as 
the  thought  of  being  adjudged  guilty  had  never  oc- 
curred to  her  mind.  All  her  preceding  fears  were 
justified;  the  intrigues,  the  plots  she  dreaded  came  to 
attack  her.  Fearful  suspicion  !  Julius,  perhaps,  loved 
her  no  more;  Julius,  conquered  by  the  prayei-s  of  his 
family  and  in  compact  with  them,  was  now  searching 


gloomy  and 

y  that  com- 
itnpanied. 
to  overcome 
as  no  lunger 
tents  he  was 
his  leisure 
unfortunate 
stare  at  her, 
'  and  briefly 


drew  herself 
ying  on  her 

nd  who  saw 
accusation, 
)f  rage,  con- 
out  of  that 
intismuch  as 
id  never  oc- 
j  fears  were 
ded  came  to 
rhaps,  loved 
•ayera  of  his 
iw  searching 


1 


1 


UNA  LBrrFKA  ANONIMA. 


123 


"Sedetevi,"  egli  rispose  con  voce  cupa  e  niinac- 
oiosa." 

Essa  sfidette  macohinalmcnte  sojrfiiojiata  da  qucUa 
voce  e  dal  gesto  col  quale  era  stata  accorapagnata. 

Giulio  aveva  fatto  uno  sforzo  incredil)ilo  per  domi- 
nare  1'  emozione  che  1'  opprimcva.  Non  potcva  piu 
contenersi.  Rimaee  silonzioso  ancora  per  qualche  mo 
mento,  quasi  si  raccogliesse  per  godere  a  suo  bell'  agio 
dcir  ognora  crescente  agitazione  dell'  infelice  Fanny. 
In  scguito  senza  pur  cessare  di  fissarla  e  quasi  voless'j 
provarl'!,  freddamente  o  concisamente  lo  disse  ; 

"Dunque,  mi  aveto  ingannato  1" 

La  povera  giovine,  muta  dallo  stupore,  rovesciossi 
indieti'o.  A  suo  turno  ella  senti  la  parola  morirsi  suUe 
labbra,  e  la  voce  arrestarsi  ncllo  fauci. 

Giulio  che  continuava  asoiTeggerlacoUa  mano  e  che 
la  vedeva  atterrata  da  questa  imprevveduta  accusa,  la 
Bcosse  fortemente  e  con  accento  pieno  di  rabbia,  con- 
tinu6: 

"  Rispondete,  ma  rispondete  dunque." 

Invano  egli  si  sforzava  di  destarla  da  quell'  orribile 
sogno,  essa  pih  non  rispondeva,  dal  perch^  alia  eua 
unaginazione  mai  si  era  presentato  11  pensiero  di  po- 
tere  essere  sospettata  colpevole.  'lutti  i  suoi  prece- 
dent! timori  erano  giustificati;  gl'  intrighi,  lemanovre 
da  lei  paventate  venivano  ad  attaccirla.  Orribile  so- 
npetto  1  Giulio  forse  piii  non  1'  amava;  Giulio  vinto 
dsiL6  preghiere  della  famiglia,  d'  accordo  colla  stesso 


1   ■: 

! 

\  \ 

i     ■I' 


124  AN  ANONYMOUS  L.MTER. 

for  a  pretext  for  rupture.  A  fearful  abyss  had  opened 
at  her  feet,  and  she  had  fallen  into  it.  Julius,  afraid 
of  such  an  easy  triuuiph,  repressing  himself,  thus 
continued : 

'*I  shall  try  to  be  calm.  Listen  to  me.  This  in- 
terview, perhiips,  will  be  the  last  one  betw«!en  us  ;  if 
you  cannot  justify  youi-self,  it  will  be  an  everlasting 
rupture,  but  I  shall  not  judge  without  having  first 
hoard  you.  If  you  have  deceived  me,  you  were  very 
guilty,  because  I  had  perfect  confidence  in  you ;  I 
would  have  bi'(m  ashamed  of  watching  your  conduct. 
I  loved  you  and  to  you  I  would  have  sacrificed  all, 

— friends,  fortune,  mother " 

■  .Fanny  made  a  movement.  Finally  she  understood 
that  she  was  accused  of  infamy  and  falseness.  Blushes 
suffused  her  face  and  her  cheeks,  and  when  Julius' 
eyes  again  asked  her  for  an  answer,  she  this  time  pur- 
posely remp,iuou  dil«'nt,  because  she  felt  wounded  in 
her  virtue. 

Another  pau  j  followed,  and  then  Julius  l)egan  : 

"Speak  to  me  frankly,  Fanuy.     Am  1  the  only 

person  who  has  put  his  foot  in  this  apartment  ? 

Think  well.- Have  you  received  any  other  ?" 

"Ah!  if  that  is  the  question,"  she  replied,  "yes  ; 
another  person  has  been  here  whom  you  know,  one 
of  your  friends,  Mr.  Saint-Gilles." 

"  Saint-Gilles  ! "  said  Julius,  completely  astonished. 

"By  his  remarks  he  prepared  me  for  this  altercation." 


■m 


id  opened 
118,  afraid 
lelf,   thus 

This  in 
!on  U8 ;  if 
/erlasting 
ring  first 
vore  very 
n  you;  I 

conduct, 
ificed  all, 

aderstood 
Bhi-shtw 
3n  Julius' 
time  pur- 
lunded  in 

began  : 
the  only 
lent  ? 

.?" 

3d,  "yes  ; 


stonished. 
creation." 


UNA  LKTTERA  ANONTMA.  126 

cercava  adcsso  un  pretesto  di  rottura.  Un  ahisso 
spaventevole  si  era  aperto  sotto  i  suoi  picdi  otl  ossa  vi 
si  era  precipitatn.  Giulio  shigottito  da  questo  facile 
trionfo,  raflTronandosi  ri  prose  : 

"  Mi  provcro  a  rimancro  cahno.  Uditcmi.  Questo 
colloquio  sar!\  forso  1'  ultimo;  se  non  potete  giustiti- 
carvi  sanV  una  roltura  ctcrna,  pero  non  vi  giudichcro 
sen/a  pria  avcrvi  ascoltato.  Se  mi  avete  ingannato, 
siete  colpevolissinm;  dappoiche  in  voi  io  aveva  intiora 
tiducia,  avrci  arrossiU)  ili  sorvcgUarc  le  vostre  azioni, 
vi  amava  ed  avrei  per  voi  sagriticato  tutto,  amici,  for- 
tune, madre, . . . .  " 

Funny  fece  un  movinumto.  Alfine  capiva  ch'essa  era 
accusata  di  mcnzogna,  d'  infamia.  II  suo  visoe  le  suo 
guancio  si  soffusscro  di  rossore,  ed  allorche  gli  occhi 
di  Giulio  di  bel  nuovo  le  domandarono  una  risposta,vo- 
lontariamente  questa  volta  ella  rimaae  silenziosa  per- 
che  sentivasi  fcrita  nella  sua  virtu. 

Ne  segul  una  nuova  pausa  ed  indi  Giulio  continuo  : 

"Parlatemi  schiottamcntc,  Fanny,  sono  io  il   solo 

che  abbia  posto  i  piedi  in  quest'  appartamcnto  ? 

Eiflettc'te  bene. . . .  avete  ricevuto  altri  ?" 

"Ah,  se  si  tratta  solo  di  cio,''  essa  rispose.  "Si, 
qui  h  ben  venuto  una  pei-sona  chc  voi  conoscete,  un 
vostro  amico,  il  signor  Suint-Gilles." 

"Saint-Gilles?"  riprese  Giulio  sommamentesori^rcso. 

" Coi  suoi  discoi-si  mi  avova  preparato  alia  banufla 
che  adesso  mi  fate." 
w 


196  AN  ANON  YMOIJ8  LETTEB. 

"Hef  He  inust  explain  to  mo  his  way  of  acting. 
It  is  not  of  him  that  I  am  spoaiiing ;  you  do  not  Hjiealc 
to  me  of  another  young  man  wliose  mysterious  call 
has  l)t!en  revealed  to  me." 

"  Ah  !  "  answered  Fanny,  ''whathns  been  reported 
to  you  'i " 

"This  is  what  I  have  heord,"  cried  Julius,  rumpling 
a  paper  which  he  took  from  his  breast:  "It  has  been 
narrated  to  me  tb"*^  d".u'l!ig  my  absence,  the  day  be- 
fore yesterday  in  the  evening,  a  young  man  wrapped 
in  a  cloak  had  entered  your  house,  secretly  intro- 
duced by  Marion  ;  that  he  had  loft  two  hours  after; 
that  this  young  gentleman  had  called  often,  though 
you  had  never  spoken  to  me  of  it;  lastly,  that  he  had 
known  you  before  myself ;  that  he  loved  you,  and  that 
you  were  to  marry  him.  Is  all  this  true  ?  Is  it  ne- 
cessary that  I  should  alsc*  tell  you  his  name  ? " 

"It  is- needless,"  replied  Fanny  with  dignity;  "who 
gave  you  these  particulars  ? " 

"This  letter,"  said  Julius,  "can  you  contradict  it  I " 

"Who  signed  it  ?» 

' '  Signed  it  is  not,  but  what  care  I  if  it  tells  the  truth  ?" 

"An  anonymous  letter  !  "  said  she  with  contempt; 
"  and  you  tnist  it  i  A  vile  denunciation  has  in  your 
heart  a  stronger  influence  than  the  thousand  proofs  of 
love  which  1  gave  you  ?  You  have  for  me  so  nmcb 
esteem  that  the  first  comer  can  slander  and  calumniate 
U*Q  without  being  forced  to  answer  for  bis  sayings  1 


IHHi 


Y  of  acting, 
lo  not  H])euk 
tfterious  call 

sen  reported 

IS,  rumpling 
It  htw  been 
the  (lay  be- 
an wrapped 
iretly  intro- 
liours  after; 
;en,  though 
that  he  had 
)u,  and  that 
?  la  it  ne- 
e?» 
nity;  "who 

tradictit?" 

the  truth?" 
contempt ; 
as  in  your 
1  proofs  of 
le  so  niucb 
calumniate 
3  sayings? 


UNA  LRTTRRA  ANONTMA.  127 

"Egli  ?  Bisogner^  ch'  el  mi  spicghi  il  suo  modo  di 
agire.  Non  h  \wti>  dl  lul  che  qui  si  tratta,  voi  non  mi 
parlato  di  un  altro,  di  un  giovine  di  cui  mi  venno  rive- 
lata  la  misteriosa  visita." 

"Ah!"  soggiunse  Fanny,  "Che  cosa  vi  h  state 
riferitol" 

"Ci6  che  ho  saputo,"  grid6  Giulio  spiegazzando  un 
foglio  che  trasse  dal  petto.  Mi  h  stato  raccontato  ch^ 
nel  tempo  dclla  mia  asscn/a,  avant'  ici'i  sulla  sera, 
un  giovine  avvolto  in  un  mantello  era  entratc  in  vo- 
stra  casa,  segretamente  introdotto  da  Marian  nn,  e  che 
n'  era  partito  solo  dopo  due  ore;  che  questo  giovine  era 
coniparso  qui  spesso,  abbench^  mai  voi  mo  ne  abbiate 
parlato,  intino  ch'  cgli  vi  nvova  conosciuto  prima. di 
me,  che  vi  amava,  e  che  dovevate  sponarlo;  h  egli  vero 
tutto  ci6?  Fa  d'  uopo  che  io  ve  ne  dica  anche  il 
nome  ? " 

"Egli  h  del  tutto  inutile,"  soggiimse  Fanny  con  di- 
gnitA,  "  chi  vi  dctte  simili  dettagli  ? " 

"Questa  lettera,"  rispose  Giulio,  "la  smentirete 
voi?" 

"Dachifefirmata?" 

* '  Firmata  ?  non  lo  ^  ma  che  importa,  se  dice  il  vero  1" 

"Una  lettera  anoniraa  I"  riprese  Fanny  con  disprez- 
zo.  "Ad  essa  prestate  fede?  Una  vile  denunzia  ha  sul 
vostro  cuore  una  influenza  maggiore  delle  mille  prove 
ch'  io  vi  detti  del  mio  amore?  Voi  nutrite  per  me 
tanta  e  cosi  grande  stima  che  il  primo  venuto  pu6  ca- 


J 


128  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

Ah !  sir,  what  future  are  yon  preparing  for  both  of  us  ?'' 
"  Instead  of  accusing,  defend  yourself.  If  the  au- 
thor of  this  letter  has  stated  a  falsehood,  I  will  dis- 
cover him,  and  I  swear  by  heaven  I  will  punish  him. 
But  if,  instead,  he  has  opened  my  eyes  in  regard  to 
you  and  to  a  perlidy  of  which  I  would  have  been  the 
victim,  then  he  is  a  friend  and  it  is  my  duty  to  thank 
him.  Hear  what  he  writes,  and  afterward  tell  me 
which  name  he  deserves." 

Opening  the  paper,  with  a  choking  voice  he  read: 
"  Sir:  A  person  who  takes  an  interest  in  you,  but 
"  who  wishes  not  to  expose  himself  to  the  hatred  of 
"any  one,  thinks  it  his  duty  to  take  the  veil  of  the 
"  anonymous  to  enlighten  you  about  a  woman  who 
"  is  on  the  point  of  receiving  your  name.  I  do  not 
"  know  whether  you  were  the  fii-st  in  her  aflection,  but 
"  I  do  know  that  you  are  not  the  first  that  ought  to 
"  to  have  led  her  to  the  altar.  A  young  man  of  her 
"own  place,  united  to  her  by  a  friendship  of  long 
"  standing,  was  deeply  in  love  with  her  and  he  ought 
"  to  marry  her.  This  union  cannot  be  compared  with 
"  the  one  you  offer  her.  She  had  to  renounce  him, 
"  but  in  doing  so  she  has  not  ceased  to  see  him.  At 
"  the  beginning  of  your  acquaintance,  he  presented 
"  himself  at  her  house.  Afterward  he  called  again  ; 
"  once  you  met  him  before  the  door,  and  now  that  he 
"  is  obliged  to  depart,  she  has  received  his  farewell. 
'*  Your  absence  from  Paris  favored  this  last  meeting. 


1  f 


'^♦"•^'"^■♦e.'KirwBiM 


UNA  LRTTERA  ANONIMA. 


129 


lunniarmi  presso  voi  sonza  nommcmo  cssere  costret- 
to  a  rendeivi  con  to  delle  sue  parole?  Oh,  signore, 
qual'  avvenire  ne  preparate  ad  ambcdue?" 

'•  In  luoffo  di  accusare  difendetevi.  Se  1'  autore  di 
questu  lettcra  ha  mentito  io  sapro  scoprh-lo,  e  giuro  al 
cielo  lo  puniro,  ma  se  invece  mi  apn  gli  occhi  siil  vo- 
stro  conto  e  su  di  una  perfidia  della  quale  sarei  stato  la 
vittima,  allora  eglie  un  amico,  ed  e  mio  dovere  il  rin- 
grnziarlo.  Ascoltate  quanto  mi  scrive  e  diterai  po- 
scia  qual  nome  egli  si  meriti." 

Spiegando  11  foglio,  ei  Icssc  con  voce  soflfocata : 
"  Signore  :  Una  persona  che  s'  interessa  a  voi,  ma 
"chenonvuole  esporsi  all' odio  di  chicchesia,  crede 
"  sue  dovere  assumere  il  velo  dell'  anonimo  per  illu- 
"minarvi  sul  conto  di  una  persona  oh' e  in  procinto 
"  di  ricevere  il  vostro  nomo.  Ignoro  sic  siatc  il  primo 
"  nel  suo  affetto,  so  pero  che  non  siete  il  primo  che  do- 
"  vete  condurla  all'  altare.  Un  giovine  del  suo  paese, 
"  unito  a  lei  da  un'  amicizia  di  lunga  data  1'  amava 
"  perdutamente  e  doveva  sposarla.  Quest'  unione 
"  non  poteva  porsi  a  paragone  con  quella  che  ora 
"voi  le  offrite.  Essa  dovette  rinunziare  a  lui,  ma 
"  rinunziandovi  non  ha  cessato  di  vederlo.  Gitl  sui 
"  primordii  della  vostra  conoscenza  si  era  presentato 
"alia  sua  casa;  vi  e  dappoi  ritornato,  voi  lo  incon- 
"  traste  una  volta  innanzi  la  porta,  ed  adesso  che  deve 
"  allontanarsi,  essa  ha  ricevuto  i  suoi  addii.  La  vo- 
"Btra  assenza  da  Parigi  t'avoriva  quest'  ultimo  con- 


ii 


■4';-! 


180  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

"  Yesterday  evening,  Mr.  Ernest  Gairal,  with  many 
**  precautions,  entered  her  house,  und  after  two  houi-s 
"he  left " 

"Forever,"  exclaimed  Fanny,  rising,  "forever  1 " 

"  You  then  confess  that  he  has  come  ?  " 

"  Yes,  please  now  listen  to  me." 

"No,  nothing!  nothing!"  replied  Julius,  raging. 

"Listen.  One  condemns  a  person,  then,  without 
allowing  him  to  answer?  I  am  innocent.  I  was 
wrong  in  keeping  it  a  secret  because  of  your  jealousy, 
which  I  feared.  This  young  man  had  been  chosen 
for  my  husband  by  my  father.  For  him  I  did  not 
experience  either  hatred  or  love.  I  left  my  birthplace 
without  even  telling  him.  He  came  here  c.  -o  tc  re- 
mind me  of  the  intentions  of  our  respecti*  p  t'  iUis, 
and  I  did  not  give  him  any  hope,  although  u  <  iot 
then  know  you.  He  loved  me,  it  is  time;  thn'  ae  re- 
turned to  visit  me  is  also  true;  and  the  day  before  yes- 
terday he  again  returned.  I  did  not  conceal  from 
him  my  love  for  you,  or  your  generous  conduct,  nor 
the  destiny  which  awaits  me.  He  left  me  resigned, 
and,  as  I  told  you,  forever.  For  me,  dear,  this  visit 
had  no  importance;  it  came  unexpectedly,  and  if  I 
have  not  spoken  to  you  before,  it  is  only  because  it 
passed  away  from  ray  mind." 

This  defence,  so  simple,  had  destroyed,  little  by 
little,  almost  all  the  suspicions  of  Julius.    In  pro- 


ith  many 
wo  houi-s 

sver  1 " 


,  raging. 

without. 

I  was 

jealousy, 

m  chosen 

did  not 
iilihplace 

0  tc  re- 
i'    ii'Ts, 

u    '     :0t 

III'  ae  re- 
>fore  yes- 
eal  from 
luct,  nor 
resigned, 
this  visit 
and  if  I 
ecause  it 

little  by 
In  pro- 


TJNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  131 

"vegno.    lersera  il  signor  Ernesto  Gairal  h  penetrate 
"  in  casa  con  molta  precauzione  e  dopo  due  ore  egli  h 

"partito " 

"Per  sempre  1"  esclamo  Fanny  alzandosi,  per  sem- 

pre!" 

"Confessate  dunque  ch'  egli  fe  venuto?" 

"Si,  ora  compiacetevi  di  ascoltanni." 

"  No,  nulla,  nulla  !"  riprese  Giulio  fremendo. 

«  Ascoltatemi.  Si  condanna  foi-se  alcuno  senza  per- 
mettergli  di  rispondere?  lo  sono  innocente.  II  raio 
torto  e  quello  di  avere  avuto  un  mistero  motivato  dalla 
vostra  gelosia  ch'  io  temeva.  Quel  giovine  allra  volta 
mi  venne  scelto  a  marito  da  mio  padre.  Non  provava 
per  lui  ne  odio,  ne  amore;  lasciai  il  paese  senza  nem- 
meno  awisarlo.  Si  present6  qui  una  volta  per  ricor- 
danni  le  intenzioni  delle  nostre  rispettivefamiglie,non 
gli  lasciai  speranza  di  soita,  eppure,  in  quell'  epoca, 
Giulio,  ancora  io  non  vi  conoscea.  Mi  am6,  e  \^o. 
Di  bel  nuovo  h  ritornato  a  visitarmi,  h  ani;he  vero,  ed 
avant'  ieri  h  nuovamente  venuto  qui,  Non  gli  ho  na- 
scosto  r  amore  mio  per  voi,  ne  la  vostra  generosa  con- 
dotta,  ne  il  destino  che  mi  attendeva.  Ei  rassegnato 
mi  lasci6,  e  come  vi  dissi,  per  sempre.  Per  me,  amico, 
qucsta  visita  non  aveva  importanza  alcuna,  mi  giunse 
inaspettata  e  se  prima  non  ve  ne  parlai  fu  solo  perche 
mi  sfuggi  di  mente." 

Questa  discolpa  cosi  semplice  aveva  presao  a  poco 
distrutto  quasi  tutti  1  sospetti  di  Giulio.     A  misura 


:^mm 


8SSWP- 


133  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

portion  as  she  spoke,  thu  confusion  and  agitiition  of 
his  heart  faded  away  to  give  pJace  U>  the  siiame  of 
having  shown  himself  so  cruel.  Moved  by  the  sincere 
tone  of  these  explanations,  he  was  already  prepared 
to  fall  at  the  feet  of  that  wi)nian  who  had  cnco  more 
become  his  idol,  when  his  eyes  rested  on  the  end  of 
the  letter,  which  he  had  not  yet  read.  He  wished 
for  a  final  trial. 

' '  Forgive  me,  Fanny.  I  ask  you  a  thousand  pardons 
if  I  have  wronged  you  or  suspected  you  unjustlv. 
My  excessive  love  made  me  uuj ust.  Be  not  provoked 
at  my  anger.  The  secrets  hidden  hy  you  may  serve 
as  an  excuse  for  this  moment  of  rage.  Do  you  for- 
give me  ? " 

She  placed  one  of  her  hands  on  her  heart,  and 
offering  the  other,  which  he  covered  with  kisses,  said: 

"Ahl  Julius,  what  pain  you  have  given  me  I  1 
should  never  have  thought  1  could  suffer  so  much 
without  dying." 

"Now,"  he  added,  "as  a  guarantee  of  this  recon- 
ciliation, give  me  the  token  which  till  now  you  have 
refused— tlie  ring,  the  only  souvenir  of  your  mother. 
The  more  dear  it  is  to  your  heart  the  more  acceptable 
to  me  will  the  sacrifice  be." 

Fanny  answered,  smiling :  "Have  you  forgotten 

what  I  have  already  told  you?     Why  this  so  earnest 

desire  ?    And  what  high  value  could  it  have  to  you  ? " 

"  Does  it  not  contain  the  hair  of  my  Fanny  ^— hair 


jltation  of 
I  shame  of 
he  sincere 
I)repured 
>nco  more 
tie  end  of 
[e  wished 

d  pardons 
unjustly, 
provoked 
nay  serve 
I  you  for- 

eart,  and 
3ses,  said: 
I  me  1  I 
so  much 

is  recon- 
fou  have 
■  motlier. 
cceptal)le 

forgotten 
3  earnest 
t<»you?" 
f  if— hair 


UNA  LBTTERA  ANONIMA.  183 

ch'essa  parlava,  la  confusioneed  ilturbamcnto  del  suo 
cuore  disslpavansi  per  far  luogo  alia  vergogna  di  es- 
sei-si  mostrato  cosi  cmdele.  Commosso  dal  tuono  sin- 
cero  di  questa  difesa,  egli  gii\  era  pronto  a  g-pttai-s:  ai 
piedi  di  quella  donna  ridivenuta  il  suo  idolo,  allor- 
che  i  suoi  occhi  si  arreatarono  sulla  fine  della  lettera, 
ch'  egli  ancora  non  aveva  letto.  Voile  tentare  un 
ultimo  esperimento. 

♦'Pcrdonami,  Fanny,  ti  domando  mille  perdoni,  se 
ti  ho  Bconosciuta,  se  ti  sospcttai  ingiustamente.  L'  ec- 
cesso  del  mio  amore  mi  rende  ingiusto.  Non  corruc- 
eiarti  del  mio  sdogno.  I  segi-cti  da  te  nascosti  deli- 
bono  servire  di  scusa  a  questo  mio  momcnto  di  rabbia. 
Mi  perdoni  tui" 

Essa  p(is6  una  delle  sue  mani  sul  cuore  ed  abban- 
donandogli  1'  altra  ch'  ci  ricoprl  di  baci,  gli  disse  : 

"  Ah  !  Giulio  che  dolore  mi  avete  fatto,  non  avrei 
creduto  di  poter  soflfrire  tanto  senza  morire." 

•"Adesso,"  ei  riprese,  "  per  garanzia  di  questa  ricon- 
ciliazione,  accordami  il  pegno  che  tin  qui  constante- 
mente  mi  hai  ritiutato,  1'  anello  che  solo  ti  resta 
deir  ereditA  di  tua  madre.  Piii  e  desso  caro  al  tuo 
cuore,  pill  accetto  me  ne  sar^  il  sagiiticio." 
Fanny  rispose  sorridendo : 

"Haitu  dimenticato  quanto  gvk  ti  dissi?  Perche 
questo  tuo  cos\  vivo  desiderio  i  E  qual  gran  pregio 
esso  possiede  ai  tuoi  occhi  ? " 

"  Non  contiene  forse  i  capelli  della  mia  Fanny,  car 


m^ 


^aOtSB 


-J* 


134:  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEjR. 

taken  from  her  head  when  a  child?  Do  not  refuse  it 
to  me,  I  entreat  you.  I  know  where  you  keep  it.  It 
is  in  a  little  casket  at  the  bottom  of  the  first  drawer 
of  this  secretaire.     Please  give  me  the  key." 

His  looks  were  always  sweet  and  affectionate,  but 
his  voice  trembled  and  had  a  strange  tone  of  rage. 
Fanny  perceived  it. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  said,  '  'you  are  asking  for  your  pardon. " 
She  hid  the  key  in  her  bosom  and  withdrew  a  few 
steps. 

"I  do  wish  it,"  cried  Julius,  giving  free  course 
to  the  anger  he  had  restrained  withsomucli  difficulty. 
"  I  do  wish  this  key,  I  need  it,  even  if  I  must  wring 
it  from  you " 

"Always  suspicious ! " 

*'  Always  some  mystery  ! " 

"Well,  then,  I  shall  disclose  you  everything.  If 
till  now  I  have  refused  to  you  to  open  my  secreiaire  it 
was  only  because  in  it  you  would  find  some  accounts, 
some  documenta  which  would  have  revealed  to  you 
that  instead  of  living  upon  an  income  bequeathed  to 
me,  as  I  always  told  you,  I  lived  by  my  labor.  I  did 
not  confess  the  truth  to  you,  because  I  was  too  proud 
to  accept  your  gifts.  Have  I  committed  a  crime  2 
and  those  who  have  written  to  you,  will  they  yet 
maintain  that  I  am  a  woman,  moved  by  interest? " 

"Then  you  could  deceive  me  for  so  long  a  time, 


imin 


refuse  it 
3p  it.  It 
i  drawer 

date,  but 
of  rage. 

pardon." 
!W  a  few 

J  course 
Ifficulty. 
it  wring 


ing.  If 
ftaire,  it 
ccounts, 

to  you 
ithed  to 
.  I  did 
0  proud 

crime  ? 
\iey  yet 

8t?» 

a  time, 


UNA  LBn'ERA  ANONIMA.  1^5 

pelli  staccati  dalla  sua  fronte  allorchfe  era  bambinettal 
Non  rifiutarmelo  te  lo  scongiuro.  lo  so  dove  lo  chiu- 
di.  Esso  trovasi  in  un  piccolo  scrigno  nel  fondo 
della  prima  cassetta  di  questo  armadio.  Dammene  la 
chiave,  te  ne  nrejro." 

I  suoi  sgua.  '■  mo  serapre  dolci  ed  affettuosi  la  sua 
voce  pero  trcmava  ed  aveva  uno  strano  accento  di 
rabbia.     Fanny  ne  fece  1'  osservazione. 

"  Ah  !"  diss'  elk,  "  domandate  il  vostro  perdono." 
Essa  nascose  la  chiave  nel  seno  ed  indietrcggio  al- 
cuni  passi. 

"  La  voglio,"  insistette  Giulio,  lasciando  libero  cor- 
so  all'  ira  che  con  tanto  stento  aveva  trattenuta.    "  Si, 
voglio  quella  chiave,  ne  ho  bisogno,  e  piuttosto  ve  la 
strapper6 . . . . " 
"  8empre  sospotti  1 " 
"  Sempre  misteri !" 

*-Ebbene  vi  8veler6  il  tutto.  Se  finora  ricusai  dl 
aprirvi  quel  mobile  fu  soltanto;  perche  nello  stesso  vi 
trovereste  alcuni  conti,  alcune  carte,  che  vi  svelerebbe- 
ro  qualmente,invece  di  vivere  con  una  pensione  che  mi 
era  stata  legata,  siccome  sempre  vi  assicurai,  io  viveva 
col  prodotto  del  mio  lavoro.  Non  vi  confessai  la  ve- 
rity per  essere  troppo  orgogliosa  da  ricevere  ed  accet- 
tare  i  vostri  doni.  Ho  io  commesso  un  delitto  ?  e  co- 
loro  che  vi  scrivono,  sosterranno  ancora  essere  io  una 
donna  mossa  dall'  interesse  ? " 

"Dunqueavete  potuto  ingannarroi  e  siffatta  menso- 


.   If 


'«*^f1fqil!?(!!!P!?!!<l*9>9ni!*!^!*^ 


•m 


f 


laf' 


*'^  AN  ANONVJIOUS  LETTEK. 

nnd  you  could  repeat  to  me  this  falsehood  so  many 
tunes  without  my  detecting  it,  so  great  was  the  sin- 
cerity which  shone  in  your  face,  so  innocent  was  your 
mouth,  as  it  is  at  this  veiy-  moment,  in  which  you  are 
agam  deceiving  me."  So  saying,  he  wrung  the  kcA- 
from  her  hands.  Amazed  by  such  violence,  Fanny 
fell  senseless  into  the  arm-chair.     Julius  opened  the 

secretaire,  then  the  drawer  and  the  casket but  the 

ring  was  not  there. 

"  Ah  I "  he  exclaimed,  "I  was  quite  sure  of  it." 

At  these  words,  Fanny  recovered  her  consciousness, 
ran  to  the  secretaire  and  also  began  to  search. 

"My  ring  I  my  ring!" 

"Disappeared!" 

"Stolen!  stolon  I" 

"Yes,  stolen,"  repeated  Julius,  and  violently  seiz- 
ing the  girl  by  the  arm,  he  thrust  the  letter  before 
her  eyes  and  finished  reading  it  aloud  : 

"The  proof,  sir,  that  all  the  relations  between 
"that  woman  and  her  first  lover  are  not  ended,  the 
"proof  that  they  loved  each  other  and  that  Gairal's 
"departure  had  for  its  purpose  only  to  facilitate  an 
"advantageous  marriage,  is  in  the  fact  that  before 
"they  parted  she  wished  him  to  accept  a  family  rin- 
"which  had  belonged  to  her  mother,  which  she  jeaf- 
'ously  kept,  and  in  which  was  enclosed  her  hair." 


so  many 
3  the  sin- 
vm  your 
you  are 
the  kcA- 
>,  Fanny 
'ned  the 
-but  the 

fit." 
i)U8nes8, 


Hy  sciz- 
r  before 

)etween 
led,  the 
Sairal's 
itjjte  an 

before 
ly  ring 
le  jeal- 

hair." 


XTNA  LliTTERA  ANONTMA.  137 

gna  avete  potato  ripotermela  tante  volte,  senza  eh'  io 
me  ne  addasai,  tanta  era  la  sinecritA  die  traspariva 
dal  vostro  sguardo,  c()s\  scmplice  era  la  vostra  bocca 
come  lo  h  adenso,  in  qucsto  slosso  monionto  in  cui  di 
bel  nuovo  ra' ingannate."  Co»\  parlando,  le  strapp6 
dalle  mani  la  chiuve.  Stupefatta  da  questa  violenza 
Fanny  cadde  traniortita  suUa  poltrona.     Giulio  apri 

lo  scrittoio,  quindi  il  cassettinc   poi  lo  scrigno 

1'  anello  non  vi  era. 

«'  Ah  ! "    Egli  esclam^  ' '  n'  era  persuaso ! " 
A  questo  parole,  Fanny  si  rianiracN,  corse  alio  scrit- 
toio ed  essa  pure  si  dette  a  cer('are. 
♦ '  II  mio  anello  I      11  mio  audio  1 " 
"Scomparso." 
*'llubatol     Rubatol" 

«  Si,  rubato  ! "  ripete  Giulio  ed  afferrando  la  giovine 
donna  pel  bracdo  le  pose  sotto  gli  occhi  la  lettera  c 
termino  di  leggerla  ad  alta  voce." 

"  La  prova,  signore,  che  tutte  le  relazioni  fra  co- 
"  testa  donna  e  1'  antico  suo  amante  non  sono  ancora 
"  interamente  cessate,  la  prova  ch'  essi  si  aniano  sem- 
"pre,  e  che  la  pai-tenza  di  Ernesto  Gairal  servir  do 
"  vea  soltanto  a  facilitare  un  av  vantaggiosomatrinionio 
"  sta  nel  fatto  che  prima  di  separai-si  essa  ha  voluto 
"dargli  un  anello  di  famiglia,  andlo  appartenente  a 
"sua  madre  ch'  essa  gelosamente  conservava  e  nel 
"quale  sono  racchiusi  i  suoi  capelli." 
"Ebbene,"  prosegul  Giulio,  "negate  ora  se  osate. 


,ri» 


188  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

"  Well,"  pui-8ued  Julius,  "will  you  deny  it  now? 
This  rinjr  you  had  refused  me;  the  key,  too,  you  were 
refusing  not  long  ngo.  Knuvery  on  knavery  I  false- 
hood on  falsehood  I  •' 

"Marion,"  cried  Fanny. 

"Ah,  you  well  know  that  she  is  not  at  home.  I 
alone  will  answer  you.  1  cuiso  you  and  hate  the  day 
in  which  I  became  acquainted  with  you.  Farewell ! 
farewell  I     Say  to  your  lover  that  ho  can  now  return." 

In  departiiir,  he  cast  a  Inst  look  at  Faimy.  She  was 
lying  on  the  tioor  immovable,  pale,  in  a  state  near  to 
death.  He  made  a  few  steps  to  help  her,  but  his  feel- 
ings of  anger  and  contempt  returning,  he  called  an 
old  womun,  her  neighbor,  and  after  pointing  out  to 
her  the  faiiited  Fanny  : 

"  Take  care  of  that  woman  ! "  he  said,  and,  throw- 
ing hei:  a  purse  tilled  with  gold,  disappeared. 


V. 

THE  AUTOGRAPH. 

At  the  moment  in  which  Romeo  receives  from  his 
servant,  Balthazar,  the  nt  w^  of  Juliet's  death,  he  pro- 
nounces these  simple  words  :  "  Indeed  I  Now,  ene- 
mies, stars,  I  challenge  you  I "  and  aftenvards  buys 
the  poison.  This  deep  grief,  so  parsimonious  of  com- 
plaints, impresses  more  than  any  exciting  paraphrase. 
In  fact,  our  nature  usually  takes  interest  in  the  doings 


iiii>yiM«*fan  ItT  "■  ■ 


it  now? 
^ou  were 
y !  false- 


lome.     I 

)  the  (lay 

arowell  ! 

return. " 

She  was 

3  near  to 

his  fcol- 

sallod  an 

5  out  to 

1,  throw- 


from  his 
,  he  pro- 
bw,  ene- 
d8  buys 
I  of  com- 
aphrase. 
e  doings 


UNA  T.ETTKRA  ANONIMA.  130 

Quosto  ancUo  lo  uvete  ricuHato  a  mo  I  La  chiave 
pure  ino  la  licuHavate.  Furberia  su  furbena  I  Bu- 
gia  8U  bugla  I " 

• '  Marianna, "  prido  Fanny. 

"  Oh,  voi  ben  sapete  com'  essa  non  sia  in  casa  !  lo 
solo  vi  rispondoro.  lo  vi  maledico  o  dftcsto  il  giorno 
in  cui  vi,  conobbi.  Addiol  addio !  dite  al  vostro 
amanto  ch'  adesso  ogli  puo  liboranu-nto  ritornare." 

Nel  partiro  getto  su  Fanny  un'  ultima  occhiata. 
Essa  era  distosa  bocconi  a  icrra  in  uno  stato  vie  ino  a 
morte.  "  Ei  avanz6  per  vcnirlo  in  soccorso,  ma  ritor- 
nando  ai  suoi  sentimenti  di  sdogno  o  di  dispi-ezzo, 
mc\  chiam6  una  vechia  vicina  ed  additimdole  Fanny 

svenuta. 

"  Abhiate  cnra  di  questa  donna,"  le  disso :  e  gettun- 
dole  una  borsa  pieua  d'  oro  scomparve. 


V. 

L'  AUTOGRAFO. 

Nel  inomento  in  cui  Romeo  riceve  dal  suo  servitoro 
Baldassare  la  notizia  della  morte  di  Giulietta,  ei  pro- 
munzia  queste  semplice  parole :  "Davvero !  Adesso, 
nemiche  stelle,  io  vi  sfido,"  e  poscia  compra  il  veleno. 
Questo  cupo  dolore  cosi  parco  di  lamenti  impressiona 
piii  di  qualsiasi  commovente  parafrasi.  Infatti,  la 
nostra  natura  suoie  mteressarsi  all'  operate  dei  nostri 


1 


^■ 


i:; 


I 


■y'B'ig,WiWj»Ma]4iiuiyyw".ia,'AU!i».."jj,i<.i*i>X'W'.'gv?'-^^^ 


.^»» 


•MilUyMMKaHl 


140  AN  ANONTMOU8  LKTI'BK. 

of  onr  fpllows,  wlintever  thoy  aim  nt,  nnd  Bomotimps 
even  when  their  spntimentM  nnd  foi'llnpe  uvp  not  in 
hurniony  with  ouih.  This  intercat  hints  whllo  liope 
suppoi-tH  it  unci  until  uncertainty  delnys  tlie  result, 
but  from  the  moment  in  wliich  his  (l«'stiny  is  accom- 
plished, it  is  necesstuy  tliiit  he  in  wliom  we  wore  in- 
terested spiire  us  liis  joy  or  jjiiof.  A  settled  mutter 
excites  our  attention  no  lonf^ei.  We,  too,  will  spare 
our  readers  the  description  of  Julius  Valabert's  mental 
sufferings. 

After  the  dreadful  scene  we  have  narrated,  we  will 
pass  over  an  interval  of  eighteen  months,  and  we  shall 
find  him  married  for  a  year,  and  at  the  moment  in 
which  the  wife,  opening  the  door  of  his  office,  with  a 
sweet  and  timid  voice  says  to  him : 

''Excuse  me  if  I  am  intruding,  but  the  pei-son  you 
sent  for  has  arrived.  Do  you  wish  to  receive  him 
now,  or  do  you  prefer  that  he  should  wait  ?  " 

Julius  had  married  his  kind  cousin,  Adele  de  Lau- 
nay.  Very  few  words  are  necessary  to  explain  the 
change  which  had  taken  place  in  the  respective  posi- 
tions of  these  two  persons. 

As  a  result  of  the  rupture  with  Fann}^  a  violent 
fever  had  endangered  the  life  of  Julius.  He  would 
certainly  have  died  without  the  constant  care  of  his 
mother  and  Adele.     Friendship  and    love  had  re- 


Hi 


somotimps 
u-(>  not  in 
t'hilu  hope 
he  result, 
is  acconi- 
e  wore  in- 
lod  mutter 
will  spare 
t'a  mental 

[1,  we  will 
d  we  shall 
loment  in 
oe,  with  a 

ei-son  you 
ui'ive  him 

e  de  Lau- 
:pluin  the 
:;tive  posi- 

a  violent 
He  would 
are  of  his 
)  had  re- 


i^L 


MMiin  riiniiiiiii  iwiV -ifiiriiwii*! 


UNA  FiRTrERA  ANONIMA. 


141 


simili,  quiilun(|uo  no  sia  lo  scojx)  che  si  prefiggono,  e 
quah^hevoltu  luicho  allorqiiundo  i  loro  sentimonti  o  le 
loro  pnssioru  non  si  confucciunocollonostre;  quest'  in 
ten'Hse  dunilinch«  lii  sporanzu  lo  so.sticno  e  fincht)  Tin 
cert^zza  no  rittirda  lo  soioglinu iito;dair  instante  pcro 
in  cui  il  loro  lestino  6  compiuts  fa  <!'  uopo  che  colui 
al  quale  c'  inU^ressianio  ci  rlHpinini  la  sua  gioia  ed  il 
suo  dolore.  Fatto  compiuto  pifi  non  eccita  la  no- 
stra attonzione-  :\ioi  pu.e  rispnnuituenio  ai  nostri 
lettori  il  raccoulo  doi  p>...mcnti  r  rali  a  Giulio  Vu- 
lahert. 

Dopo  la  terrihile  scena  test  (;a  noi  narrata  salU*- 
remo  un  intervallo  d'  ^ifciotto  niesi  e  >  ■trovereriio 
(jriulio  anunogliato  da  cnci  un  anno  «■  nei  nioniento  in 
cui  la  consorte,  aprcndo  la  porta  del  suo  studio,  gll 
dice  con  voce  dolce  e  timida. 

"  Scusa,  se  ti  disturbo,  caro,  pei(\  la  pereona  da  te 
fatta  ricercare  fe  qui.  Vuoi  tu  ri<?everla  adesso,  o  con- 
Viene  farla  aspettju-e  ? " 

Giulio  aveva  sposato  la  sua  antica  arnica,  la  sua 
buona  cugina  Adole  de  Launay. 

Alcune  poche  parole  sono  indispensabili  per  spie- 
gare  il  cambiamento  accaduto  nella  posiziono  di  que- 
st! due  personnaggi. 

Dopo  .,  -ttura  con  Fanny,  una  violente  febbre  avea 
messo  a  ...^  .iitaglio  la  vita  di  Giulio. 

Ei  certamente  sarebbe  perito  sen/a  le  infinite  solle- 
oitudini  di  sua  madre  e  di  Adele.     L'  amicizia  e  la 
11 


I 


af?yj?^-g'ai'-''i  j.-"  ^  -'.  t>ite'wwa«u»MWWMJjMM*wi'u.'ii^ 


142  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

stored  him  to  life.     A  deep  sadness  and  protracted 
languor  followed  his  delirium;  without  will  and  with- 
out  opposition  he  allowed  himself  to  be  carried  to  the 
country,  where,  according  to  the  doctor's  opinion, 
the  pure,    fresh  air  would  restore   his  energ}',  and 
Avhere  the  sight  of  new  objects  would  cancel,  little  by 
little,  the  remembrance  of  the  sad  c\'ent.     In  com- 
pany with   his  mother  and  cousin,  he  went  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Lyons.     There  was  a  moment  whi^n 
they  thought  to  have  the  company  of  Mr.  Saint-Gilles, 
but  the  presence  of  this  gentleman  was  obnoxious  to 
Julius,  who  did  not  doubt  that  the  anonymous  letter 
was  his  work,  although  inwardly  he  sincerely  thanked 
him  for  having  enlightened  him.     All  that  reminded 
him   of  the  infamous  treachery  caused  painful  and 
gi-ievous   emotion.     Perhaps,   in  his   heart,    he  had 
flattered  himself  with  the  expectation  of  receiving  a 
letter  from  Fanny,  in  which  she  would  try  to  justify 
herself.     However,  he  had  not  hiNird  from  her;  all 
those  who  approached  him  kept  silent,  and  Julius, 
blushing  and  ashamed  of  his  weakness,  dare  not  con- 
tide  in  any  one  of  his  friends. 

Thus  he  left  Paris  hiding  in  himself  the  dumb  grief 
which  gnawed  within,  too  offended  to  think  of  a  rec- 
onciliation and  yet  too  deeply  in  love  to  unbosom  his 
grief  to  othei-s. 

But  every  hour  which  ^jasses  pours  a  drop  of  balm 


rotracted 
iind  with- 
ied  to  the 

opinion, 
3rg3',  and 
,  little  by 

In  com- 
nt  to  the 
lent  when 
int-Gilles, 
loxious  to 
lous  letter 
Y  thanked 
reminded 
inful  and 
,  he  had 
jceiviug  a 
to  justify 
1  her;  all 
id  Julius, 
e  not  con- 

umb  grief 
:  of  a  rec- 
ibosom  his 

ip  of  balm 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  I43 

riconoscenza  gli  restituirono  la  vita.     Una  profonda 
tnstezza,  una  malattia  di   languore  succedette  ai  suoi 
dehranti  transpoi-ti;  senza  volere  e  senza  resistenza  si 
lasci6  condurre  in  campagna  dove  seeondo  1'  opinio- 
nedei  raedici,  1'  aria  pih  pura  e  pi{i  vivace  gli  restitui- 
rebbe  1'  energia,  e  la  vista  di  nuovi  oggetti  scancelle- 
rebbe  poco  a  poco  i  ricordi  della  tristissima  avventura. 
Unitamente  alia  niadre  ed  alia  cugina  ei  parti  pei  din- 
torni  di  Lione.    Fuwi  un  momento  in  cui  si  penso  di 
farlo  accompagnare  dal  signor  Saint-Gilles;  ma  la  sua 
preseuza  era  incresciosa  a  Giulio,  il  quale  fermanente 
credeva  essere  1'  anonima  lettera  un  suo  operato,  ab- 
benche  nel  profondo  del  [suo  cuore  lo  ringraziass'e  di 
averlo  illuminato.  Tutto  quanto  gli  ricordava  1'  infame 
tradimento  gU  cagionava  una  nociva  e  penosa  impres- 
sione.,     Foi-s'   cgU  segretamente  erasi   lusingato   di 
veder  giungere  una  lettera  di  Fanny,  nella  quale  ella 
tentasse  di  giu.itilicarsi.     Pcro  egli  non  ne  aveva  rice- 
vuto  alcuna  notizia;  tutti  ooloro  che  lo  avvicinavano 
rimanevano  silenziosi,e  Giulio  arrossendo  e  vero-oo-nan- 
dosi  della  sua  debolezza  non  ardiva  eonfidarsi  in  nes- 
suno  dei  suoi  amici. 

In  tal  maniera  ei  lascio  Parigi  concentrando  in  se 
stesso  il  muto  dolore  che  lo  rodeva,  credendosi  troppo 
offeso  per  pensare  ad  una  riconciliazione  ed  essendo 
ancora  troppo  amoroso  per  sfogare  il  suo  dolore  nel 
seno  di  altri. 

Ogni  ora  pero  che  passa  vei-sa  una  goccia  di  bal- 


aeasMliawgaaMa! 


Amojs 


tjmimif!t.mm'Jiii^*iim'..'j  iMmuauumm 


144  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

into  the  moat  painful  wound,  and  every  day  which 
dies  takes  away  one  of  the  thorns  which  make  the 
heart  bleed.  During  the  first  few  months  passed,  in 
the  country,  Julius  felt  no  sensible  improvement.  The 
days  were  excessively  hot  and  the  sultry  nights  were 
too  oppressive  for  his  feeble  constitution.  The  flow- 
ers, which  were  in  all  their  beauty,  their  perfumes, 
the  golden  fruits  of  the  earth,  the  plains  covered  with 
verdure,  the  thick  foliage  of  the  woods,  that  powerful 
germ  of  life  which  abundantly  circulated  in  nature, 
all  these  beauties  of  the  sky  and  the  earth  oppressed 
him  aa  a  stinging  irony,  as  a  complete  contrast  with 
the  desolation  and  the  dryness  of  his  soul,  in  which 
nothing  grew  except  a  bitter  agony  which  he  persisted 
in  keeping  hidden.  However,  little  by  little,  flowers 
withered,  autumn  appeared  with  its  train  of  shadows 
and  air  filled  with  dew,  with  its  pule  sun  shining 
through  fogs  as  a  smile  through  tears.  Julius  felt 
that  intense  grief  partially  dispelled.  The  sadness 
and  mourning  of  the  objects  which  surrounded  him 
harmonized  with  his  own  siulntss  and  invited  him  to 
confidences. 

His  solitary  walks  were  replaced  by  others  with 
his  mother  and  Adele  de  Launay,  and  between  the 
latter  and  himself  a  greater  intimacy  began.  The 
woman  who  had  once  foreseen  his  desires,  who  had 
shaiod  his  hopes,  ought  she  not  naturally  to  be  the 
tiiut  to  console  him  ?    Only  with  her  he  dared  to  speak 


mm 


day  which 
make  the 
8  passed,  in 
nicnt.   The 
lights  were 
The  flow- 
perfumes, 
)vered  with 
it  powerful 
in  nature, 
1  oppressed 
ntrast  with 
1,  in  which 
le  persisted 
ttle,  flowers 
of  shadows 
un  shining 
Julius  felt 
'he  sadness 
(unded  him 
rited  him  to 

others  with 
between  the 
legan.  The 
es,  who  had 
y  to  be  the 
red  to  speak 


UNA  LF/rrERA  ANONIMA, 


145 


same  suUe  ferite  le  piii  viv«,  ogni  giorao  che  muore 
strappa  una  delle  spine  che  fanuo  sanguiuaro  il  cuore. 
Nel  corso  dei  primi  mesi  passati  alia  campagna  Giulio 
non  esperiment<!)  visibili  miglioria.  I  giorni  erano  ec- 
cessivamente  caldi,e  le  tiepidi  notti  troppo  pesanti  pel 
suo  debole  corpo.  I  fiori  che  si  trovavano  in  tutta  la 
loro  bellezza,  il  loro  prof umo,  i  frutti  dorati  della  terra, 
le  pianure  ricoperte  di  verdura,  il  folto  fnriiame  dei 
boschi',  quel  potente  germe  di  vita  che  circolava  in  ab- 
bondanza  nella  natura,  tutte  quelle  magnificenze  del 
cielo  e  della  terra  1'  opprimevano  quale  una  pungente 
ironia,  quasi  una  completa  antitesi  del  suo  cuore  nel 
quale  nulla  germogliava  tranne  un  pungente  dolore 
oh'  ei  si  ostinava  a  tenere  celuto.  Poco  a  poco  i  fiori 
inaridirono,  1'  autunno  comparve  col  suo  corteggio 
d'  ombra  e  1'  aria  plena  di  rugiada,  col  suo  pallido  sole 
risplendente  a  travei-so  le  nebbie  come  un  sorriso  a 
traverse  le  lagrime.  Giulio  sentl  espanderei  in  lui 
queir  iramenso  dolore.  La  tristezza  ed  il  lutto  degli 
oggetti  che  lo  circondavano  armonizzava  colla  sua  tri- 
stezza e  lo  invitavano  alle  confidenze. 

Le  sue  solitarie  passeggiate  vennero  sostituite  da 
altre  in  corapugnia  della  madre  edi  Adele  de  Launay; 
e  fra  lui  e  quest'  ultima  comincio  a  stabilirai  una  piii 
grande  intimiti.  La  donna  che  aveva  prevenuto  i 
suoi  desiderii,  che  altravolta  aveva  diviso  le  sue  spe- 
ranze  non  doveva  forse  essere  naturalmente  la  prima 
a  cousolarlo  ?    Solo  con  lei  egli  ardiva  parlare  di  Fau- 


^P" 


■-iwtiiHij'ttii «iiii^iii»« 


■Jmuuai»..*ummiLMliiwi 


MMf 


146  AN  ANONYMOUS  LE.TTER, 

of  Fiinny.  in  these  long  private  conversations,  which 
became  of  daily  occnrrence,  in  those  prolonged  chat, 
terings  near  the  fire  in  the  evenings,  she  narrated  by 
what  means  she  had  caused  the  rupture  of  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  de  Hcpteuil ;  how  without  any  one 
knowing  it,  an  act  justiHt'd  by  her  intention,  she  had 
in  her  hand  the  thread  of  that  intrigue;  how  by 
means  of  suspicions  dexterously  insinuated  she  had 
prepared  the  countess  for  the  tirst  refusal;  how,  at 
the  same  time,  having  learned  that  Miss  Septeuil, 
with  no  love  for  Julius,  only  obeyed  her  mother, 
taking  advantage  of  that  first  moment  of  spite,  she 
had  advised  a  prior  suitor  to  renew  his  courtship. 
From  confidence  to  confidence  she  ended  by  revealing 
to  him  a  secret  which  she  had  concealed  from  all  in 
order  not  to  add  her  own  griefs  to  those  which  t'  ulius 
already  felt.  She  had  not  wished  to  take  for  herself 
any  of  the  consolations  due  to  him.  Mr.  de  Launay 
had  died,  and  that  sad  intelligence  had  been  received 
by  Adele  a  little  before  the  time  at  which  Julius  had 
thought  he  was  i)etrayed  in  his  love.  The  youth  was 
never  tired  of  admiring  such  inexhaustible  kindness, 
always  ready  to  sacrifice  itself  for  others.  This  trea- 
sure at  this  moment  belonged  to  n'  one.  Their  in- 
terviews were  becoming  longer  and  more  frequent, 
and  without  having  lost  any  of  their  intimacy  and 


ins,  which 
nged  chat, 
ir rated  by 
f  his  mar- 
t  any  one 
n,  she  iiad 
;  how  by 
d  she  had 
;  how,  at 
Septciiil, 
r  mother, 
spite,  slie 
courtship, 
revealing 
:om  all  in 
ich  Julius 
for  herself 
e  Lauhay 
Q  received 
Julius  had 
youth  wa« 
kindness, 
This  trea- 
Their  in- 
frequent, 
macy  and 


1 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONtMA.  14? 

ny.  Nci  nuoi  luughi  colloquii  a  quattr'  oochi  ch*  ad- 
divvennero  gioruidieri,  in  qncllo  ciarle  prolungatc  la 
sera  pi'esso  il  fu  ico.  cUa  gli  narro  con  (juai  niezzi 
avesse  cagionata  la  rottura  del  suo  niatrimonio  colla 
signora  de  Septueil,  come  sonza  cluj  alouno  lo  sa- 
pesse,  cosa  ginstifioata  dall'  intcnzione,  ella  aveva 
in  sua  mano  tntt'  i  tili  di  quell'  intrigo :  come  per 
mezzo  di  sospetti  abilinente  insinuati  cssa  avcsse 
con  molta  accortezza  prei)arata  la  coutessa  a  quel  pri- 
nio  rifiuto,  come  ncllo  stesso  tempo  essendo  ve- 
nu  a  a  conoscere  qualmente  la  signorina  di  Sep- 
tueil  senz'  amore  per  Griulio  ubl)idisse  solo  alia 
inadre,  profittando  di  quel  momento  di  ilispetto,  ella 
avosse  ctinsigliato  ad  un  antico  pretendeste  di  ripre- 
sentai-si  di  bel  nuovo.  Di  confidenza  in  conlidenza 
essa  giunse  a  svelargli  un  segreto  importante  che 
tino  allora  avea  saputo  nascondere  a  tutti  aL  solo 
tine  di  non  aggiuugere  i  propri  dolori  a  quelli  che  giA, 
affliggevano  Giulio.  Essa  non  aveva  voluto  prender 
per  se  una  sola  delle  consolazioni  che  spettavano  a  lui. 
II  signor  de  Launay  era  morto  e  quell'  afHiggente  no 
tizia  era  stata  ricevuta  da  Adele  poco  prima  dell'  epo- 
ca  nella  quale  Giulio  si  era  crcduto  tradito  nel  suo 
amore.  II  giovine  non  si  stancava  di  ammirare  quella 
bont^  inesauribile  sempre  pronta  a  sagrificarsi  pegli 
altri.  Quel  tescn'O  in  quel  momento  non  appartene- 
va  ad  alcuno.  Le  loro  conversazioni  addivenivano 
piii  lunghc  e  pid  frcqucnti,  e  senza  che  avessero  per- 


-  .iiiiiianiwiiiiiiMiiiiii 


BjiBOMMtJlltttaMWiffeawl'i 


"m- 


148  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

pleasure,  were  sometimes  timid  and  embarrassing, 
both  for  him  and  for  her.  Fanny's  name  was  no 
longer  so  frequently  spoken,  and,  one  evening  Julius, 
holding  his  cousin's  hands  and  fixing  on  her  glances 
which  troubled  her,  asked  her  if  she  would  finish  the 
work  begun,  and  reconcile  him  completely  to  life, 
granting  him  the  haijpiness  he  had  never  known. 

"  We  have  both  suffered,"  said  he.  "  Married  to  a 
man  who  was  not  able  to  appreciate  you,  you  had 
patience  and  resignation ;  I,  on  the  contrary,  experi- 
enced violent  and  strong  passions.  To-day,  both 
free, — ^you  from  an  imposed  chain,  I  from  my  error, 
— ^we  feel  the  need  of  a  quiet  and  sincere  aflfection. 
Be  mine,  if  not  from  love  at  least  from  pity,  and  I 
will  be  grateful  to  you  for  it." 

Without  answer  on  her  part  two  months  later 
Adele  had  married  her  cousin. 

The  year  following  their  marriage  was  spent  in  the 
country.  Mrs.  Valabert's  death  strengthened  these 
ties.  At  the  beginning  of  the  winter,  they  returned 
to  Paris.  Julius  resumed  his  occupation,  for  a  long 
time  interrupted,  and  searched  for  relief  from  those 
sorrows  of  which  the  stain  had  not  yet  disappeared, 
in  work  rather  than  in  the  pleasures  of  luxury  and  of 
the  world.  Saint-Gilles,  during  this  long  absence  of 
Julius,  had  resumed  his  old  habits.     He  rarely  called 


rrassing, 
!  was  no 
g  Julius, 
■  glanc(!s 
inish  the 
J  to  life, 
?\vn. 

ried  to  a 
you  had 
',  experi- 
ly,  both 
ly  error, 
iffection. 
y,  and  I 

ths  later 

nt  ia  the 
ed  these 
returned 
)r  a  long 
»m  those 
ppeared, 
y  and  of 
)sence  of 
ily  called 


UKA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  1*9 

duto  del  loro  diletto  e  doUa  loro  intimitA,  taluna  volta 
riescivano  timide  ed  imbarazzanti  tanto  per  1'  uno 
come  per  I'altra;  11  nome  di  Fanny  non  veniva  piU  pro- 
nunziato  cosi  spesso,  ed  una  sera  Giulio  tenendo  fra  e 
sue  le  mani della  cugina,e  fissando  su  lei  occhiate  che la 
confondevano,le  domandc)  se  volesse  compiere  I'  opera 
inconiinciata  ed  affezionarlo  completamente  alia  vita 
ttccordandogli  quella  feUcit^  ch'  egli  ancora  non  aveva 

conosciuto. 

"  Ambedue  abbiamo  sofferto,"  le  disse,  "mantata 
ad  un  uomo  che  non  sapeva  a^prezzarvi,  voi  aveste 
la  pazienza  e  la  rassegnazione.  lo,  invece,  provai  la 
paasione  violenta,  e  furiosa.  Oggi  ambedue  liberi,  voi 
da  una  catena  che  vi  fu  imposta.io  dai  miei  errori  sen- 
tiamo  il  bisogno  d'  un  affetto  sincero.tranquiUo.  Siate 
mm,  se  non  per  amore  almeno  per  piet^  ed  lo  ve  ne 
sar6  riconoscente." 

{Senza  ch'  essa  rispondesse,   due  mesi  pUi  tardi 
Adele  aveva  aposato  suo  cugino. 

L'  anno  sussequente  al  loro  matrimonio  venne  pas- 
sato  in  campagna.  La  morte  della  signora  Valabert 
8err6  maggioi-mente  i  vincoli  di  questo  nuovo  legame. 
Sul  cominoiare  dell'  inverno  ritornarono  a  Parigi. 
Giulio  riprese  le  sue  occupazioni  da  lungo  tempo  niter- 
rotte  e  nel  lavoro  piuttosto  che  nei  piaceri  del  bisso  e 
del  mondo  cerc6  una  continua  distrazione  a  quei  dis- 
piaceri  dei  quaU  latraccia  non  era  deltutto  scomparsa. 
Saint-Gilles  nel  tempo  della  lunga  asaenza  di  Gmlio 


iiiiHiiriitfiitii'K* 


i 


^^^  AN  ANONYMOIIH  W.VTVM. 

on  him,   and  obedient  to  Adele's    n-nyvvH,   always 
avoided  speaking  of  the  past. 

To  the  work  which  had  usually  kept  Vahibert  busy 
had  been  adch-d  othew,  viz.:  the  putting  in  order  of 
family  papei-a,  tfio  examination  of  tlu-  titles  of  suc- 
cession, the  copying  of  letters  and  other  papei-s.  He 
had,  'berefore,  given  ordei-s  to  search  for  an  honest 
and  reliable  man  to  whom  could  be  entrusted  a  little 
work,  and  as  we  have  said  at  the  beginning  of  this 
chapter,  his  wife  had  announced  to  him  the  arrival  of 
that  man. 

To  the  question,  "Do  you  wish  to  receive  him  ?  " 
Valabert  had  answered  with  an  affirmative  nod. 

"Dear,"  added  his  wih,  -  would  you  permit  me  to 
remain  present  ( " 

"Without  doubt;  but  what  inspires  you  with  this 
desire  ?  It  is  only  a  question  of  business,  of  ciphers 
and  documents,  and  in  all  probability  the  conversa- 
tion will  be  exceedingly  wearisome." 

"I  spoke  for  a  momcmt  to  the  person  introduced  to 
you,  and,  if  1  do  not  mistiike,  he  is  an  original,  full  of 
pleasant  fancies. " 

"Very  well;  judge  him  for  yourself.  Let  him 
come  in." 

An  old  mar.  presented  himself,  and  his  entrance  jus- 
tified  the  words  of  Mrs.  Vahibert.  Arrived  on  the 
threshold  of  the  room,  he  saluted  them  in  an  awkward 
way  and  with  an  exaggerated  politeness.     With  both 


S   always 

ert  busy, 
ortler  of 
^s  of  suc- 
I'l-s.  Ho 
111  honest 
(1  u  little 
?  of  tliis 
rrivjil  of 

3  him?" 

it  me  to 

k^ith  this 

ciphers 

)nvei'8ti- 

Hccd  to 
,  full  of 

3t   him 

>ce  jus- 
on  the 
'kward 
h  both 


n 


UNA  T.KTTKRA  ANONIMA.  1*^ 

aveii  riprcfo  le  sue  abitudini;  liuamente  andava  tla 
lui  e  docile  alle  pivghiore  d'  Adcle  evituva  sempre  di 
parlare  del  passato. 

Ai  lavori  che  usualmente  occnpavano  il  signer  Va- 
labert se  n'  erano  aggiunti  altii,  assiwti  di  faniiglia, 
esanii  di  titoli  di  snccessione,  copie  di  lettere  ed  altn 
documenti.  Egli  aveva  p-rcio  tlato  ordine  che  gh 
venisse  cercato  un  uomo  one^o  e  sicuro  nl  quale  po- 
tesse  essev  contidato  un  poeo  di  lavoro,  e  siccome  di- 
cemmo  sul  principio  di  questo  capitolo.  sua  moghe 
era  venuta  ad  annunziargli  1'  arrivo  di  .luoll'  uomo. 

Alia  domanda  che  gli  era  stata  fatta.     "Vuoi  tu  n- 
ceverlo?"   Valabert  avea  risposto  con  un  affermativo 

cenno  del  capo. 

"  Caro,"  riprese  sua  moglie,  "  vuoi  tu  permcttermi 

di  rimanere  presente  "i " 

"  Scnza  dubbio,  ma  che  mai  puo  far  nascere  in  te 
questo  desiderio  ?  Si  tratta  solo  di  affari,  cifre,  docu- 
menti e  secondo  ogni  probability  la  conversazione  sa- 
rk  delle  piu  monotone." 

"  Parlai  un  momento  alia  persona  che  ti  h  stata  in- 
dirizzata,  e  se  non  fo  errore  dev'  essere  un  originale 
pieno  d'  innocent!  manie."  ^^ 

"  Benone,  giudicane  tu  stessa;  si  faccia  entrare. 

Un  vecchio  presentossi  e  la  sua  comparsa  giustific6 
le  prevision!  dcUa  signora  Valabert.  Giunto  suUa 
sotrlia  della  porta  salut6  in  una  maniera  goffii  e.con 
esagerazione.     CoUe  due  man!  avea  preso  un  vecchio 


^  1 1  liMitfiTinwiiiw 


» 


'**  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

hantk  he  removed  an  old  hat,  the  edges  of  which 
were  brok.n,  an  1  by  a  hasty  movement  of  his  head 
in  bending  ii  t .  (he  knees,  he  had  cansed  to  descend 
over  his  forehead  the  torn  edge  of  a  dirty  silken  skull, 
cap.     As  If  this  ridiculous  salutation  were  not  enouc^h 
lie  repeated  it  three  times  at  equal  intervals,  each  time 
advancing  two  steps,  and  without  perceiving  that  Mrs 
Vttlabert  and  her  husband  were  making  useless  cffoits 
to  restrain  their  laughter.     As  soon  as  the  poor  man 
had  ended  his  drills,  he  raised  hinus.lf  up,  casting 
around  timidand  humble  glances.     Suddenly  his  face 
assumed  an  expression  of  astonishment,  and  he  stood 
before  Valabert  with  open  mouth  and  distended  eyes. 
Ade  e  examined  this  inexplicable  pantomime,  when 

exited :  "^'^  "*"""^  *"  '^"^^^^  «--' 

"Ternisien!" 

"Mr. Valabert!" answeredtheex-professor.  -Howl 
you  have  had  the  kindness  to  remember  myfZl 
Have  you  not  entirely  forgotten  him  who  taught  yl 
the  prmcip  es  of  an  art  which  is  now  spurned  and  of 
which  perhaps  I  am  the  last  representative  ?  The 
t-es  were  very  different  when  I  used  to  come  to 

SrTvedT  • "  ''  ""T'  '''-"^  -^-" - 

we^e  Sr  /  i^'^.^'^ber  you  always  because  you 
weie  kmd  and  affectionate  to  your  professor.  I  W 
pai-don,  madam,  for  thus  speaking  i^n  your  present^ 


>f  which 
his  head 
descend 
en  skull, 
enough, 
ach  time 
lat  Mrs. 
a  effoila 
jor  man 
casting 
his  face 
le  stood 
!d  eyes. 
B,  when 
)  times, 


"How! 
r  face? 
;ht  you 
and  of 
I  The 
>me  to 
3  your 

I  saw 
le  you 

I  beg 
sence, 


DNA  LRTTEKA  ANONIMA.  158 

cappello  (Vi  cui  gh  orli  eruno  rotti  od  il  rapido  movi- 
mcnto  (ho  aveva  imprcsso  alia  sua  testa  pit;p;rtndola 
fino  ai  ginocchi  aveva  fatto  scendero  suUa  sua  fronte 
la  nappii  'ogora  di  uno  sporco  berrcttino  di  seta  nera. 
Quasi  chc  ([uel  ridicolo  saluto  non  foHso  surticiente, 
egU  lo  ripcti)  per  ben  tro  volte  ad  intervalli  eguali, 
ogni-volta  avanzando  due  passi  senz'  accorgcrsi  che 
la  signora  Valabert  e  suo  marito  facovano  sfor/i  inft- 
niti  per  trattenin-e  lo  risa.     Quando  il  pover'  uomo 
ebbe  finito  i  suoi  caercizii,  si  diizzo  girando  intorilo 
timido  ed  umili  occhiate.     Di  botto  perc)  la  sua  tisio- 
nomia  prcse  un'  espressione  di  sorpresa  o  ristette  da- 
vanli    Valabert  colht  bocca  spalancata  e  gli  occhi 
aperti.     Adele  esaminava  quest'  inesplicabile  panto- 
niiraa,  allorche   il  pensicro  di  suo  marito  risalendo  a 
tiunpi  Jissai  lontani : 
"  Ternisien  ! "  C9clam6. 

"11  signor  Valabert  1 '*  rispose  1'  ex  pi-ofessore. 
♦'  Come !  Avete  avuto  la  bontA  di  raffigurarmi  1  Non 
avete  interamente  dimenticato  colui  che  v'  in8egn6  i 
principii  dj  un'  arte  die  oggi  vien  disprezzata,  e  della 
quale  forse  sono  1'  ultimo  rappresentante?  Era  ben 
diflerente  il  tempo  in  cui  io  venivaadarvi  lezioninella 
via  Sant'  Onorato,  nclla  casa  abitata  dal  vostro  signor 
padre.  ?ono  ormai  dieciotto  anni  e  sempre  mi  sov- 
venni  di  voi,  pi  che  eravate  buoi.o  ed  affezionato 
verso  il  vostro  professore.  Vi  domandoscusa,  ei^nora, 
tie  parlo  cosi,  in  vostra  presenza,  invece  di  aspettare 


-  i|l|>Wiiliifi  'i-jltlll 


iLJiaiuiiiiifi'iMlfiiiiriilililli'iiliiii 


^^'^  AN  ANONTMOUB  LETTKR. 

instead  of  waiting  the  permission  of  your  husJjand, 
hut  thinking  of  that  time,  I  seem  to  become  younger. 
Look  here,  madam,  you  must  not  piiy  attention  to 
my  dre.j8.     This  morning,  in  order  to  come  to  you,  I 
have  brushed  and  darned  these  rags  as  Iwst  I  coidd, 
but  they,  I  know  very  well,  are  old  and  in  bad  shape. 
On  entoring  I  felt  ashamed,  and  if  you  hud  not  bc«>n 
present,  I  am  almost  sure  your  servants  would  have 
thrown  me  out  like  a  b«!ggar.     Then  1  became  con- 
tused and  made  very  humble  salutations  that  I  might 
be  forgiven  my  presence  and  intrusion  in  these  rich, 
splendid  apartments.       Once  I,  too,  knew  how  Ut 
present  myself  properly,  madam,  and  1  have  punished 
many  young  ladies,  rich  and  beautiful  like  yourself." 
Adele  nulled  kindly,  which  finally  put  Ternisien  at 
his  ease. 

"Truly,"  replied  Julius,  "I  am  happy  and  glad  to 
meet  you  again. " 

"And  I,  too,"  answered  Ternisien.  "Well,  I  can 
see  you  are  not  changed  ;  always  good  and  without 
pride.  As  you  take  away  all  my  embarrassment, 
I  shall  ask  permission  to  sit  near  the  fire  while  you 
explain  how  I  may  serve  you.  It  is  long  since  I  have 
seen  a  fire  in  my  room,  excepting  the  blaze  of  the 
candle,  and  that  only  when,  on  account  of  economy 
I  do  not  go  to  bed  at  twilight." 

So  saying  Ternisien  took  a  chair  and  seating  him- 
self without  ceremony,  totally  forgetful  of  manners, 


■iP 


huHhand, 
younger. 
«ntion  to 
to  you,  I 
1 1  could, 
lul  shape, 
not  been 
uld  have 
ame  con- 
1 1  might 
lese  rich, 
how  to 
punished 
ourself. " 
nisien  at 

glad  to 

ill,  I  can 
without 
wsment, 
hile  you 
e  I  have 
i  of  the 
conomy, 

og  him- 
lanners. 


UNA  T-KTTEKA  ANONTMA.  155 

gli  ordlni  del  vcwtro  signor  spo«o,  ma  pensnndo  a  quel 
tempo  rai  Honto  ringiovinire.     Vedcte.  nignora,  non 
birtogna  por  niento  alia  uianioia  con  cui  vmlo  vcHtito. 
Questa  mattiiia,  i)er  vt-niro  du  vol  ho  npa/zolato  e  pu- 
liU)  pill  che  potei  (luenti  cenci,  niu  il  tiitto,  Ioho  t)cne,  h 
niolto  vecchio  ed  in  pe^^Hlnio  stato.    Eiitiando  piovava 
vergogna,  e  He  non  vi  tiovavate  hV  prcsente,  i  vostri 
servitori  mi  avr(a)bcro  caeciato  via  al  pari  di  U!i  aceat- 
tono.     AUora  mi  sono  confuwo,  ho  fatto  degl'  inchini 
vili,  vilissinii,  penlu-  mi  veni«se  perdouata  la  prcaonza 
0  I'intrusione  in  quesii  ricchi  e  splendiili  appartamenti. 
In  allri  tempi,  lo  pure  sapeva  presentarmi  convene- 
volmente,o  »ignora,ed  ho  sgridato  e  posto  in  penitenza 
signorine  belle  e  ricche  al  par  di  vol." 

A  dele  sorriae  con  una  tal'  aria  di  boutA  che  fin\  di 
riasf^ieurare  Ternisien. 

"  In  veritA,  riprese  Giulio,  sono  felice  e  contento  di 
I'itrovarvi." 

"  E(i  io  pure,"  rispose  questi.  "  Via,  non  siete  cam- 
biato;  sempnj  buono  e  senza  -^uperbia.  Giacche  mi 
togliete  la  soggezione,  mentre  mi  spiegherete  in  che 
cosa  possa  servirvi,  vi  domandero  il  permessodi  seder- 
mi  presso  il  f  uoco.  Da  tanto  tempo  in  casa  mia  non  ho 
visto  altro  ftioco  che  quello  della  candela  seppure  per 
cagion  d'  econouiia  noii  mi  vado  a  corituro  sull'  im- 

brunire." 

E  nel  cosi  parhtre,  Ternisien  presauna  sedia,  e  sedu- 
tovifli  senza  cerimonie  intieramente  dimentico  dell'  eti- 


.iaatiaigsai;  ■frifgini-oHaBni 


^56  AH  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

extended  his  feet  on  the  fender,  while,  with  his  two 
elbows  resting  on  his  knees,  he  stretched  out  his 
meagre  and  wrinkled  hands  toward  the  fire. 

Julius  Valabert,  who  found  his  professor  as  he  had 
left  him,  simple  and  full  of  kindness,  was  gazing  at 
him  with  true  pleasure. 

"Poor  Ternisien  !" he  said  to  him.  "I  see  that  you 
have  not  been  happy,  but  as  you  remember  me,  why 
have  you  not  called  on  me  i  In  every  case,  you  would 
have  been  kindly  received." 

"Yes,  perhaps  I  was  wrong;  but  you,  used  to 
riches,  know  only  one  side  of  almsgiving.  To  give, 
when  one  wishes  it  and  affords  it,  is  very  easy,  but 
to  ask  is  more  difficult." 

"After  all,  I  tiiank  chance  that  has  at  last  united 
us  again.  Here  is  some  work  for  a  few  weeks,  and  I 
hope  you  wiU  not  refuse  that  1  shall  fix  the  price 
myself." 

"We  will  fix  it  together.  The  little  talent  which 
I  have  is  completely  at  your  disposal.*' 

"Ycu,  perhaps,  live  near  here,  as  I  had  ordered 
that  before  looking  elsewhere  they  should  search  in 
our  ward." 

"Yes,  I  live  in  a  little  room  at  No.  4  Furstemberff 
street."  ^ 

Teniisien  did  not  perceive  the  profound  impression 
his  answer  produced  on  Julius  and  his  wife.  A  pause 
of  a  few  minutes  followed,  taking  advantage  of  which 


h  his  two 
I  out  hiij 

as  he  had 
guzing  at 

that  yon 
me,  why 
ou  would 

used  to 
To  give, 
jasy,  but 

st  united 
ks,  and  I 
;he  price 

nt  which 

ordered 
earch  in 

temberg 

pression 
A  pause 
)£  which 


UNA  LKITKRA  ANON  IMA.  157 

chetta  allungo  i  piedi  sugli  alari,  mentre  che  coi  due 
gomiti  appoggiati  sulle  ginocchia  avvicino  al  fuoco  le 
sue  scarne  mani. 

Giulio  Valabert  che  ritrovava  il  suo  professore 
quale  lo  aveva  lasciato  semplice  e  pieno  di  bononiia, 
1'  osservava  con  vero  piacere. 

"Mio  povero  Ternisien,"  gli  disse,  "  vedo  bene  che 
non  siete  stato  felice.  Ma,  poiche  vi  ricordavate  di 
me  perchfe  nou  siete  venuto  a  trovarmi  ?  In  ogni 
modo  sareste  stato  sempre  ben  ricevuto. " 

"Si,  forse  ho  avuto  torto.  Ma  voi  uso  alia  ri- 
chezza  conoscete  un  lato  solo  dell'  elemosina.  11  dare 
quando  si  vuole  e  quando  si  pu6,  e  cosa  facile;  il  do- 
mandai'e  pero  e  cosa  molto  piu  malagevole." 

"In  somma  ringrazio  1'  azzardo  che  ci  ha  riuniti. 
Ecco  del  lavoro  per  qualohe  settimana,  e  spero  non 
riiiuterete  di  farvene  fissart  il  prezzo  da  me." 

"Lo  fisseremo  insieme.  II  poco  talento  che  mi 
rimane  h  completamente  a  vostra  disposizione." 

"  Abitate,  forse,  qui  vicino,  giacche  prima  che  ne- 
gli  altri  quartieri  aveva  ordlnato  si  facesse  ricercii  qui 
nel  proprio." 

"  Si,  occupo  una  cameretta  al  numero  quattro  della 
via  Furstemberg. " 

Ternisien  non  die  mente  alia  profonda  impressione 
che  la  sua  risposta  aveva  prodotto  su  Giulio  e  la  sua 
consorte.     Ne  successe  un  breve  silonzio  di  pochi  mi- 
nuti  profittando  dei  quali  Valabert  ed  Adele  su  cui  que- 
ll} 


if  I ' 


# 


I 


158  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETl'EK. 

Valabert  and  Adele,  in  whom  these  words  had  awak- 
ened the  same  remembrances,  exchanged  between 
themselves  furtive  glances, 

"Lat  us  see,  Mr.  Julius,  how  I  can  serve  you." 

Valabert  placed  before  the  eyes  of  Ternisien  a  file 
of  papers  which  were  to  be  copied.  Having  agreed 
upon  the  price,  Ternisien  was  ready  to  depart,  but 
Julius  detained  him.  He  feared  to  question  him, 
and  at  the  same  time  he  wished  that  he  would  speak. 
Those  two  words,  "Furstemberg  street,"  resounded 
in  his  ears.  If  his  wife  had  been  absent,  ho  would 
have  directly  questioned  his  old  professor,  who,  lodg- 
ing in  the  same  house  where  he  had  ceased  to  go, 
would  perhaps  have  been  able  to  explain  Avhat  to  iiim 
had  remained  a  mystery.  The  presence  of  Adele, 
who  seemed  very  little  disposed  to  leave,  obliged 
Julius  to  take  a  round-about  turn  of  words. 

"What  have  you  followed  during  the  last  few 
years  ? " 

"A  ti-ade  which  did  not  suit  me,"  answered  Terni- 
sien. "I  had  lost  my  professorship  at  the  Univer- 
sity, my  pupils  had  left  me,  although  I  was  still  capa- 
ble of  teaching.  Certainly  my  hand  wsis  heavier,  but 
the  principles,  you  know  well,  were  good,  and  expe- 
rience supplies  the  lack  of  the  happy  liveliness  of 
youth.  However,  all  this  was  of  no  use ;  I  was  oblige  d 
to  resign  and  become  a  public  writer.  For  some  years 
I  M'orked  dissatistied  with  my  vocation.     Often  1  had 


'aOMMu.  ,-.,„.mr.-- 


3  ha^l  awak- 
jd   between 

ve  you." 
nisien  a  file 
v'mg  agreed 
depart,  but 
estion  him, 
ould  speals, 
'  resounded 
;,  he  would 
,  who,  lodg- 
ised  to  go, 
k'hat  to  him 
>  of  Adele, 
re,  obliged 

le  last  few 

ered  Terni- 
he  ITniver- 
s  still  oapa- 
ieaviev,  but 
,  and  expe- 
veliness  of 
vaa  oblige  d 
some  years 
)ften  1  had 


UNA  IJJTTERA  ANONUIA. 


169 


8te  parole  avevano  risvegliato  gli  stessi  ricordi,  viceu- 
devolment<e  si  scambiarono  una  furtiva  occhiata. 

"  Vediamo,"  signor  Gin'io,  "in  che  posso  servirvi? 

Valabert  pose  sotto  gli  occhi  di  Ternisien  una  filza 
di  carte  che  dovevano  essere  copiate.  Convenuti  del 
prezzo  Ternisien  gi^  stava  per  ritirarsi,  ma  Giulio  lo 
trattenne.  Temeva  d'  interrogarlo  ed  al  tempo  stesso 
desiderava  eh'  ei  parlasse.  Qucste  due  parole  via  Fui"- 
stemherg,  risuonavano  nelle  sue  orecchi'e.  Se  sua 
moglie  fosse  i?tata  assente,  egli  avrebbe  direttamente 
interrogfito  il  suo  antico  professoi-e,  il  quale  alloggiato 
nella  stossa  casa  dov'  egli  aveva  cessato  di  recarsi 
avrebbe  potuto  i)alesargli  quanto  per  lui  era  rimasto 
un  raistero.  La  presenza  di  Adelo  la  quale  sembrava 
poco  disposta  a  laseiarlo,  lo  costvinse  ad  inipiegare  un 
lungo  giro  di  parole. 

"Che  cosa  avete  fatto  nello  spazio  di  questi  ultimi 
anni  V' 

"Un  mestiere  che  non  mi  conveniva,"  rispose 
Tei-nisien.  "Aveva  perduto  il  mio  posto  di  professore 
neir  university,  i  miei  scolari  mi  avevano  lasciato 
quantunque  fossi  ancora  adatto  all'  insegnamento, 
per  certo  la  mano  era  meno  leggera,  ma  i  principii, 
voi  ben  lo  sapale,  erano  eccellenti  e  T  esperienza  rim- 
piazza  la  felico  ?  i  'acitA  della  gioventu,  Tutto  cio  non 
servi  amolhj.aljDisdgno  rassegnai-si  e  mi  feci  pubblico 
scrivano.  Per  a'ouiii  anni  lavorai  malcontent©  del 
mio  destino  e  del  mio  nuovo  mestiere.     Speaso  avea 


i 


160  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

had  the  intention  to  give  it  up.  A  circumstance 
which,  in  spite  of  myself,  poisoned  my  conscience : 
a  letter  thut  I  had  the  weakness  to  copy  for  a  miser- 
able recompense,  decided  me." 

"A  letter?"  asked  Julius,  with  indifference. 
"Yes,  an  anonymous  letter  which  contained  very 
heavy  accusations.  First  of  all,  you  must  know  that 
I  always  nourished  a  profound  contempt  for  all  demm- 
ciations  of  that  kind  which  one  has  not  the  courage  to 
sign,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  truth  ought  not  to  have 
any  fear  of  expressing  itself  openly.  Is  not  this  your 
opinion  also,  Mr.  Julius  ? " 

"Yes,"  answered  he,  who,  entirely  absorbed  in 
Temisien's  narration,  no  longer  observed  his  wife,  and 
continued : 

"How  could  that  letter  have  made  such  an  impres- 
sion on  your  mind  as  to  put  in  execution  such  a 
resolve  ? " 

"Because  that  letter  might  compromise  very  nnich 
and  perhaps  even  kill  an  innocent  person  as  well, 
as  it  denounced  a  great  perfidy." 

"Why,  then,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Valabert,  who 
upon  the  face  of  her  husband  had  guessed  what  kind 
of  feelings  he  was  endeavoring  to  conceal,  ' '  why  did 
you  not  accept  the  second  supposition,  which  waa  as 
probable  as  the  first  one  ? " 

Temisien  raised  his  eyes  to  the  sky  and  heaved  a 
deep  sigh. 


•cumstance 
onscience : 
or  a  miscr- 

nce. 

(lined  very 
know  that 
'  all  dennn- 
Dourage  to 
lot  to  have 
t  this  your 

sorbed  in 
i  wife,  and 

m  iinpres- 
3n  such  a 

ery  nnich 
I   as  well, 

Jert,  who 
ivhat  kind 
'  why  did 
ch  waa  aa 

heaved  a 


•?U"UJI"»iA.'*i   , 


tTNA  LETTEEA  ANONIMA. 


161 


avuto  I'idea  di  abbandonarlo.  Una  cii'costanza,che  mio 
raalgrado,  attossicava  la  mia  coscienza,  una  lettera  che 
aveva  avuto  la  debolezza  di  copiare  per  una  niisera- 
bile  meicede  tin\  per  decidermivi. " 

"  Una  lettera  ?"  domundo   Giulio  con  indifferenza. 

"Si,  una  lettera  anouima  che  conteneva  accuse  gra- 
vissime.  Anzitutto  h  bene  che  sapj^iato  come  ho 
serapre  nutrito  il  piii  profondo  dis[)rezzo  per  tutte  le 
denunzie  di  quesco  genere  che  non  si  ha  il  coraggio  di 
firmare  e  mi  sembra  che  la  Aerit^  non  debba  temere 
di  espriraersi  eziandio  a  viso  scop^r^^o.  Non  e  questa 
pure  la  vosti-a  opinione,  signor  Giuli  >  'i " 

"Si,"  rispose  questi,  che  assorto  intieramente  nel 
racconto  di  Ternisien  non  osservava  piii  sua  moglie,  e 
ehe  riprese : 

"  Come  questa  lettera  aveva  potuto  impressionare  il 
vostro  spirito  in  siffattjt  maniera  da  decidervi  a  pren- 
dere  una  simile  risoluzione  ?  " 

"Perch^  quella  lettera  poteva  compromettere  mol- 
tissimo  o  fors'  anche  uccidere  una  persona  innoceute; 
come  del  pari  poteva  avvertime  un'  altra,  smasche- 
rando  la  piu  nera  perfidia." 

"Perche  dunque,"  interruppe  la  signora  Valabert, 
che  sul  volto  del  marito  indovinava  i  sentiment!  ch'  egli 
sforzavasi  di  nascondere,  "perch^  non  accoglieste  que- 
sta aeconda  ipotesi  tanto  probabile  quanto  la  pi, ma  ? " 

Ternisien  alzo  gli  occhi  alcielo.ed  emiae  un  pro- 
fondo sospiro. 


-.   "<aBw4>iaiit* 


^^^  AN  ANONYMOUS  LKTTER. 

"You  are  right,  madam,  then  I  could,  but  to- 
day  " 

"To-day  ? "  repeated  Julius. 

"I  cannot  any  more.  My  fear  was  a  presentiment. 
Alas  I  It  was  goon  resized  in  the  most  painful  and 
cruel  manner." 

"Of  whom  did  that  letter  speak  ? » 

"Of  a  young  lady." 

^'  And  to  whom  was  it  addressed  ? " 

"I  was  never  able  to  loarn.     The  boy  who  brouffht 
the  letter  to  be  copied  had  ordei-s  to  have  the  address 
written  by  another  hand,  and  was  unwilling  to  tell 
me  whether  he  had  received  these  ordei-s  from  a  gen- 
tloman  or  a  lady.     Such  a  great  mystery  troubled  me. 
This  was  not  the  first  time  that  I  had  felt  scruples 
about  letters  of  that  sort,  but  they  had  never  made 
such  an  impression  upon  me,  and  I  reproached  my- 
self  continually  with  an  action  so  simple  and  jiatural 
belonging  to  my  vocation,  as  if  I  had  committed  a 
crime.     At  that  time  they  were  making  objections  to 
my  remaining  any  longer  in  the  court  of  the  Holy 
Chapel.     I  left  the  shop  and  rented,  at  No.  4  Fuj«t- 
emberg  street,  a  little  room  vacated  by  an  old  woman 
The  first  two  nights  passed  in  this,  my  new  lodging 
were  calm  and  silent,  but  in  the  midst  of  the  third 
one  1  was  awakened  by  sighs  and  smothered  moans 
and  from  time  to  time  by  distressful  cries,  the  effecls 
of  pain.     The  foUowing  day  it  was  said  to  me  that 


d,  but  to- 


sentiment, 
liuful  and 


0  brouffht 
le  address 
fig  to  tell 
)m  a  gen- 
ibled  me. 

scruples 
v^er  made 
3hed  my- 
l.jiatural 
linitted  a 
ictions  to 
he  Holy 
4  Fm«t- 

woman. 
lodging, 
he  third 

1  moans, 
le  eflfecls 
me  that 


UNA  LETTEBA  ANONIMA.  168 

"Siete  nel  vero,  signora,  alloii*  lo  potcva,  per6 
oggi . . . . "  • 

"Oggi?"  ripetfeGiuUo. 

"Nol  posso  piu.  II  mio  timore  era  un  prpsenti- 
mento.  Ahime  \  presto  questo  si  realizzt)  nella  piu 
penosa  e  crudele  manicra." 

"  Di  chi  dunque  parlava  quella  lettera  ?  '* 

"  Di  una  giovinetta." 

"Edachieradiretta?" 

"  Non  ho  mai  potuto  saperlo.  II  ragazzo  che  porto 
la  lettera  per  farla  copiare  aveva  ordine  di  far  scrivere 
da  altri  P  indirizzo,  e  nemmeno  voile  dirmi,  so  avesse 
ricevuto  questi  ordini  da  un  uomo,ovvero  da  una  don- 
na. Un  cosigranmistero  m' inquietava.  NoneragiA 
la  prima  volta  che  scrupoli  di  tal  sortaintorno  a  lettere 
di  simile  natura  mi  avessero  tormentato,  ma  mai  mi 
avevano  impressionato  si  fattamente  e  sempre  mi  rim- 
proverava  quell'  atto  cos!  semplice  e  cosi  naturale  della 
mia  professione,  quasi  avessi  commessa  una  mal'azi^ne. 
In  quel  tempo  appunto  mi  si  facevano  obiezioni  per 
lasciarmi  piii  a  lungo  nella  corte  della  Santa  Cappella. 
Ab.bandonai  la  mia  bottega  ed  affittai  al  numero  quat- 
tro  della  via  Furstemberg  una  caraeretta  lasciata  da 
una  vecehia.  Lo  due  prime  notti  passate  in  qncsto 
mio  nuovo  alloggio  furono  calme  e  silenziose,  ma  nol 
bel  mezzo  della  terza  fui  svegliato  da  gemiti,  da  la- 
ment! sofibcati  e  di  tratto  in  tratto  da  forti  grida  strap- 
pate  al  dolore.     L'  indomani  mi  venne  detto  che  1'  ap- 


\m^ 


ilv 


*  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER, 

the  little  apartment  near  tb.  mom  I  occupied  was  in. 
habited  by  a  young  lady  at  the  point  of  death. 

"A  few  days  had  passed  when  one  day,  retuming 
home  at  about  three  o'clock,  I  was  surprised  to  see  the 
door  of  the  said  apartment  wide  open.  I  looked  into 
the  fii-st  room, -nobody  was  there,-no  one  in  the 
second,~everywhere  the  same  dreadful  silence.  I 
entered  the  last  room,  and  there,  lying  insensible  on 
her  bed,  I  saw  a  young  woman  whose  features,  al- 
though  alt.  -d  by  protracted  illness,  showed  that  she 
must  have  been  beautiful  when  she  was  happy. 

"1  followed  the  first  impulse  of  pity.    I  replaced 
on  the  pillow  the  head  which  hung  off  the  bed     1 
caused  her  to  inhale  from  a  smelling  bottle  which  I 
found  on  the  mantel  and  tried  to  restore  her  to  con- 
sciousness.    When  she  opened  her  eym,  ashamed  to 
be  alone  in  a  room  with  a  young  woman,  I  apolo- 
gized and  hurriedly  retired.     Th.e  porter,  whom  I 
questioned,  told  me  that  on  the  same  day  her  servant 
had  left  her.      Without  inquiring  what  were  her 
means,  I  ran  for  and  brought  with  me  a  nurse  to 
watch  over  her.     Happily,  there  was  some  gold  in 
her  house.     Miss  Fanny  Dusmenil  was  her  name;  I 
had  forgotten  to  mer.tion  it  before." 

At  tiaese  w(H-ds  Julius  rose.     Ternisien,  interrupt- 
ing his  uMrative,  saw  him,  pale,  subdued,  and  his  face 


ied  was  in- 
tith. 
returning 
I  to  see  the 
ooked  Into 
>ne  in  the 
lilence.     I 
ensible  on 
iittires,  al- 
1  that  she 

py- 

[  replaced 
}  bed.     1 
I  which  I 
er  to  con- 
lamed  to 
I  apolo- 
whora  I 
r  servant 
k^ere  her 
nurse  to 
gold  in 
name;  I 

iterrupt- 
his  face 


UNA  LESTTEKA  ANONIMA.  166 

partamento  attiguo  alia  stanza  da  me  occupata  era 
abitato  dn  una  giovin  donna  ohe  trovavasi  in  pericolo 
di  morte. 

Erano  trascorsi  varii  giomi,  quando  un  d\  rien- 
trando  a  casa  verso  le  tre  dopopranzo  fui  sorpreso  dal 
vedere  la  porta  dell'  anzidetto  appartamento  tutta  spa- 
lancata.  Guardai  nella  prima  camera,  non  v'  era  al- 
cuno,  nessuno  nella  seconda,  dapertutto  lo  stesso  spa- 
ventoso  silenzio.  Penctrai  cos\  nell'  ultima  stanza,  e 
]k  svenuta  sul  letto  vidi  una  signorina  di  cui  le  fattez/.e. 
abbenche  alterate  dn  lunganialattia  mostravano  ancora 
aver  dovuto  essere  bellissirae  quand'  essa  era  felice. 

Detti  retta  al  mio  primo  movimento  di  pietA.  Ri- 
posi  sul  guanciale  la  testa  che  penzolava  fuori  dal 
letto,  le  feci  respirare  una  bottiglia  che  trovai  sulcam- 
minetto  e  cercai  di  rianimarla.  Allorquando  ella  apr\ 
gli  occhi,  mi  vergognai  di  trovarmi  cosl  da  solo  a  solo 
con  una  giovine,  ie  presentai  le  mie  scuse  e  mi  ritirai 
precipitosamente.  La  portinaia  da  me  interrogata, 
mi  disse,  che  lo  stesso  giomo  la  sua  serva  1'  avea  ab- 
liandonata.  Senz'  informarmi  quali  potessero  essere 
le  sue  risorse  corsi  a  cercare  e  meco  condussi  un'  assi- 
stente  per  vegliare  ai  suoi  bisogni.  Fortunatamente 
in  casa  vi  era  dcU'  oro.  La  signorina  Fanny  Dusme- 
uil,  che  cosi  essa  si  chiamava,  mi  era  dimenticato  di 
dirvelo...." 

A  questi  detti  Giullo  si  alz6.  Temisien  inten-om- 
pcndo  il  suo  racconto,  lo  vide  pallido,  abbattuio  e  col 


^^6  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTKR, 

wet  with  tears.    Julius  turned  toward  his  wife,  and  see- 
ing  her  trcnihling  with  a  profound  grief  pictured  in 
her  face,  going  near  to  her,  took  her  hand,  saying  : 
"  Adcle,  my  tears,  which  were  flowing  without  my 
own  will,  are  an  oflense  to  you.     Please  retire  intu 
your  own  apartments,  1  entn-at  you,  and  forgive  me." 
She  lowered  hor  head  and  went  away,  saying  in  u 
low  voice,  but  with  an  energetic  tone  of  despair : 
"  Well,  1  know  that  you  yet  love  her." 
Ternisien    had  risen  completely  confounded,  and 
when,  after   the  scene  which    had   taken    place,  he 
found  himself  alone  with  Julius,  he  no  longer  knew 
whether  he  ought  to  remain  silent  or  to  continue. 
Valabert,  now  free  from  restraint,  came  to  him  and 
inquired : 

"Is  she  dead?     Is  it  true?" 

"Yes." 

"And  her  child?" 
"Dead  also,  liefore  the  mother, 
know  ? " 

"I  know;  what  matters  the  rest  to  you  i     And  tell 
me,  was  she  calunmiated  i " 
"Yes." 
"Who  told  you?" 

"Herself,  and  then  I  have  other  irrefutable  proof  " 
"What is  it?"  ^ 

"Listen.    Often,  in  day  time,  I  used  to  inquire  about 
her  health.     Her  agony  lasted  long  and  I  had  time  to 


But  how  do  you 


Sii£fSr'-r'"'rr;airffBaar! 


fo,  and  see- 
)ictured  in 
d,  saying  : 
without  my 
retire  int(» 
•give  me." 
tying  in  u 
pair : 

Kled,  and 
place,  he 
ger  knew 
continue, 
iiim  and 


7  do  you 
And  tell 

I  proof." 

re  about 
[  time  to 


tTNA  LETTKRA  ANONIMA.  1^7 

viso  inondato  di  liigrime.  (Jiuliii  si  volso  verso  la  sua 
consorte  e  scorgcndola  troniant^N  con  un  prot'ondo  do- 
lore  dipinto  8ul  volto,  avvicinatosfle  le  preso  la  niano 
dicendr 

"  A(i'  If.  il  pianto  cho  irroni])e  senza  la  niia  volonf!* 
6  nil  r  vol.     Escite,  ritiratevi,  ve  ne  pret..* 

E  11  capo  e  sottovoce  ma  coll'  onorgia  dclla 

dippci        in  ,  r  i])re8o: 

"  Ben  io  sapi  \  a  irhe  1'  amavate  ancora." 

Ternisien  si  era  alzato  tutto  iutcrdctto  cd  allorclife 
dopo  la  Hceiia  die  aveva  avuto  luogo,  si  trovo  solo  a 
Holo  con  (Tiulio,piu  non  sapova  se  dovesse  tacere  o  con- 
tinuare  la  nsirrativa.     Valabert  oruiai  libero  venno  a 

lui,  c : 

"Essa  h  morta.  non  e  vero  I " 

"Si." 

"Edilfiglio?" 

''  riue,  morto  prima  della  niadrc;  ma  come  sapete?" 

*'  Lo  so,  che  t'  impoi-ta  il  rosto  ? "  E  dimmi,  era 
essa  stata  calunniata  i " 

"Si." 

"Chi  teldisse?" 

"Ella  stessa  e  ne  posseggo  altresi  un'altra  irrecusa- 
bile  prova." 

"Quale?" 

"  Ascoltatemi.  Spesse  volte  nel  corso  del  d\  m'  in- 
foi-mava  della  sua  salute.  La  sua  agonia  fu  lunga, 
ed  ebbi  il  tempo  di  cattivarmi  la  sua  fiducia.     Io  pas 


1*58  AN  ANONYMOIIH  LKTTKR. 

win  her  r(»nli(k'n{'(\     I  used  to  pass  days  »»nd  nights 
at  her  bedsiile,  nnd  I  caivd  for  her  as  if  I        ■  l)ceii 
her  fatlier.     8ho  narrated  to  me  her  story.     .  !.i  told 
me  how,  on  the  (hiy  preceding  her  marriage,  her  hiver 
had  come  like  u  raging  maniac;  how,  crediting  an 
anonymous  letter,  he  had  accused  her.     Fancy  my 
surprise  and   consternation   when,  handing   me  that 
letter,  I  recognized  the  one  I  had  copied.     She  sworo 
that  notwithstanding   appearances  which  seemed  to 
condemn  her,  she  was  innocent;  and  1,  who  had  a 
wron;,'  to  repair,  hastened  to  ask  the  name  of  \  \m  who 
had  l)een  deceived  by  such  an  infamous  denui     ution, 
ond  who  would  probably  have  time  to  acknowledge 
and  repair  his  fault.     «ho  obstinately  refused  to  tell 
it.     'Iwish,'  she  said,   'that  this  fearful  misfortune 
might  have  been  delayed  a  few  months,  that  my  child 
could  have  been  born  alive,  and  then  I  would  have 
decided  myself  to  beg  on  his  behalf  the  pity  of  the 
futher;  but  now  I  am  alone  and  near  to  death,  of 
what  use  will  it  be  to  importune  him  i    Although  for 
me,  who  loved  him  so  much,  his  forgetfulness  may  be 
painful,  I  prefer  to  let  him  forget,  rather  than  perhaps 
to  awaken  in  him  a  useless  remorse  by  letting  him 
know  how  I  am  dying.'     Her  strength  visibly  left 
her.     One  evening,  the  nurse  and  1  were  at  her  bed- 
side awaiting  the  fatal  moment.     For  more  than  an 
hour  she  had  not  spoken,     I  have  always  retained  the 
minutest  details  of  that  last  evening,  and  a  conmion 


* 


!-f^-' 


»\nd  nights 
I  i..:  :  bt'eii 
i^h-i  told 
0,  hor  Idvcr 
•editing  an 
Fancy  my 
^  niti  that 
She  Hworo 
sceruL'tl  to 
^ho  had  a 
i  lini  who 
lun    ution, 
inowledge 
Hed  to  tell 
nisfortune 
t  my  child 
[»uld  have 
ity  of  the 

death,  of 
hough  for 
«8  may  be 
n  perhaps 
tting  him 
sibly  left 
;  her  bed- 
B  than  an 
ained  the 

common 


"^^^0*f^s^^^mM 


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f*.*r,! 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


bilM    12.5 

■^  Uii   12.2 

^  144    "^ 

1.8 


L25  yiHU  11.6 


f,' 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


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Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  Cor  Historical  MIcroreproductlons  /  Instltut  Canadian  de  microireproductlons  historiques 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONTMA.  169 

sava  i  giomi  e  le  uotti  al  capezzale  del  suo  letto  e  ne 
presi  cura  come  se  le  fossi  stato  padre.     Essa  mi  rac- 
cont6  la  sua  storia.    Mi  disse;  come  la  vigilia  del  gior- 
nofisaato  per  le  nozze,  il  suo  promesso  fosse  entrato 
da  lei  furioso  maniaco ;  come  prestando  fede  ad  una 
lettera  anonima  1'  avesse  accusata.     Immaginate  la 
mia  sorpresa  ed  il  mio  turbamento  allorchfe  porgen- 
domi  a  leggere  quella  lettera  riconobbi  la  stessa  die 
mi  si  era  fatta  copiare.     Mi  giuro  che  a  dispetto  di 
tutte  le  apparenze  che  sembravano  condannarla  essa 
era  innocente  ed  io  che  aveva  un  torto  da  riparare  mi 
aflfrettai  di  domandarle  il  nome  di  colui  ch'  era  stato 
ingannato  da  cos\  infame  denunzia,   chh  forse  egli 
avrebbe  ancora  potuto  riconoscere  e  riparare  il  male. 
Essa  ostinatamente  si  rifiut6  a  dirmelo.     « Avrei  vo- 
luto,'  ella  disse,  *  che  questa  terribile  disgrazia  fosse 
stata  ritardata  di  qualche  mese:  avrei  voluto  che  mio 
figlio  fosse  escito  dal  mio  seno  in  vita,  ed  allora  mi  sa- 
rei  decisa  d'  implorare  per  lui  la  pieti  del  padre;  ma 
adesso  sono  sola,  vicina  a  morte,  a  che  importunarlo  ? 
Abbenchfe  per  me  che  1'  ho  tanto  amato  possa  riescire 
doloroso  il  suo  oblio,  preferisco  lasciarglielo,  anziche 
procuravgli  un  rimorso  inuiile  rammentandogli  ch'  io 
mi  muoio.'    Le  sue  forze  ine.ensibilmente  1'  abbando- 
navano.     Una  sera  1'  aasistente  ed  io  ci  trovavamo 
presso  il  suo  letto  aspettando  il  fatale  momento.     Da 
piii  di  un'  ora  non  aveva  parlato.    Ho  sempre  presenti 
i  menomi  dettagli  di  quell'  ultima  sera  ed  un  fatto 


*•*  AN  ANONYMOUS  liETTBR. 

and  childish  fact,  to  which  death  has  imparted  a  lugu- 
brious and  dreadful  character,  will  never  be  blotted 
from  my  memory.  Near  the  head  of  the  table  a  can 
dJe  was  burning.  I  tried  to  increase  the  light,  but  as 
my  eyes  were  darltened  with  tears  and  my  hand 
trembled,  I  extinguished  the  candle  and  we  were 
phinged  into  darkness.  'It  is,  perhaps,  the  eternal 
night,  she  uttered  with  feeble  voice.  These  were  the 
last  words  she  pronounced." 

Julius  had  hidden  his  face  in  his  hands  and  tears 
flowed  through  his  fingers.  Suddenly,  as  if  he  would 
have  kept  a  tloubt  for  his  only  excuse,  he  approached 
lernisien  and  said  to  him  : 

"You  told  me  that  they  had  calumniated  her,  but 
you  did  not  give  me  the  proof,  which  you  say  is  in-e- 
rutable." 

"She  had  already  justified  herself  in  having  re- 
ceived a  young  man.  What  condemned  her  was  a 
ring  which  she  was  accused  of  having  given  as  a  love 
token  to  her  suitor.  How  it  had  disappeared  she  was 
not  able  to  explain.  Well,  it  had  beea  stolen  by  her 
servant  a  certain  Marion,  bribed  with  gold  to  steal 
this  rmg  from  the  seoretmre.  The  same  day  that,  for 
the  first  time.  I  entered  Fanny's  room,  Mai-ion,  over- 
powered by  remorse,  had  gone,  after  having  made  a 
confession  of  the  crime  without  naming  the  person 
who  had  induced  her  to  commit  it.  She  had  placed 
Bugh  a  written  confession  on  the  bed  of  her  mistress 


arted  a  lugu- 
•  be  blotted 

table  a  can- 
light,  but  as 
d  my  hand 
id  we  were 

the  eternal 
ese  were  the 

is  and  tears 
if  he  would 
approached 

ed  her,  but 
say  is  in-e- 

faaving  re- 
1  her  was  a 
en  aa  a  love 
red  she  was 
olen  by  her 
>ld  to  steal 
»y  that,  for 
U'ion,  over- 
ing  made  a 
the  person 
had  placed 
ler  mistress 


UNA  LUXTERA  AMONIMA.  Itl 

pueiile  e  comune  al  quale  la  morte  ha  impresso  un 
carattere  lugubre  e  spaventevole  mai  si  scancelleri 
dalla  mia  monte.  Una  sola  candela  bruciava  sulla  ta« 
vola  accanto  al  letto.  VoUi  rialzarne  1'  indebolita 
luce;  ma  siccorae  i  miei  occhi  erano  ottenebrati  dalle 
lasrrirae,  e  siccome  la  mia  mano  tremava ;  cosi  estinsi 
il  lumo  e  rimanemmo  nell'  oscuritil,  'Fors'  h  quosta 
la  notte  eterna?'  mornioro  con  voce  tioca.  Ecco  le 
ultimo  parole  ch'  ella  pronunzio." 

Giulio  avea  nascosto  il  vieo  nelle  mani  e  le  sue  lagri- 
me  scorrevano  a  traverso  le  dita.  All'  improvviso, 
quasi  avesse  voluto  conservare  un  dubbio  sua  unica 
scusa,  s'  avvicin6  a  Teruisien,  dicendogli : 

"Mi  asseriste  che  1'  aveano  calunniata,  ma  non  mi 
daste  la  prova  che  voi  dite  incontrastabile." 

"Gi^  erusi  giustificata  di  aver  ricevuto  quel  gio- 
vine.  Ci6  che  la  perdette  f  u  un  anello  che  le  s'  incol- 
pava  di  aver  dato  qual  pegno  d'  amore  al  suo  antico 
amante.  Come  quest'  anello  fosse  scomparso  ella  stessa 
non  poteva  rendersene  conto.  Ebbene!  Era  stato 
rubato  dalla  donna  che  la  serviva,  una  certa  Marianna 
compra  a  prezzo  d'  oro  per  sottrarre  quell'  anello 
da  un  cassetto  del  secretaire.  II  giorno  stesso  nel 
quale  per  la  prima  volta  io  era  entrato  nella  stanza 
di  Fanny,  Marianna  era  partita  dopo  averle  lasciata 
scritta  la  sua  confessione,senza  nominare  la  persona  che 
V  avea  persuasa  a  commettere  quel  delitto.  Marianna 
avea  deposto  quello  scritto  sul  letto  della  padrona 


smm^smsimemm^^ 


!5WS??SW» 


172  AK  ANONYMOUS  LETTEB. 

while  she  was  asleep,  not  having  had  the  courage  to 
accuse  hereelf  or  to  ask  fcrgiveness.  Fanny  refused 
to  search  for  her.  Reading  thia  letter,  she  had  fainted, 
alone,  without  help,  and  chance  brought  me  there. 
I  saw  that  confession." 

"Enough,  enough  I"  said  Julius,  "I  received  that 
anonymous  lettf^r.  Fanny  is  dead,— I  murdered  her. 
Who,  then,  around  me,  has  plotted  such  a  barbureup 
scheme  ?    Did  Fanny  confide  it  to  you  ? " 

"She  named  no  one.  She  only  spoke  to  me  of 
propositions  made  to  her  by  a  friend  of  her  lover's 
family." 

"  SaintGilles  I  Ah !  him,  him  !— my  mother's  con- 
fidant !    Must  I  believe  that  they  acted  in  concert, 

and  that  after  having  given  her  consent  to  it? Oh  I 

no,  no  1  he  acted  alone.  Now  I  remember  what  he 
used  to  tell  me.     Him,  him  alone,  I  accuse." 

"If  you  were  calmer,"  said  Temisien,  "I  Mould 
give  you  the  proof  you  need— the  copy  of  the  letter." 

"  Have  you  it  ? " 

"  I  have  kept  it  The  boy  who  brought  it  to  me 
had  received  the  order  to  destroy  it,  but  as  he  did  not 
know  how  to  read,  T,  instead  of  the  copy,  tore  up  an- 
other piece  of  paper,  without  his  noticing  the  substi- 
tution.    This  copy  must  be  at  home." 

"To-morrow  you  will  bring  it  to  me;  no,  even  to- 
night  now 1  need  it.     Let  us  go  I " 


3  courage  to 
nny  refused 
bad  fainted, 
k  me  there. 

eceivcd  that 
irdered  her. 
a  barbureuf) 

:e  to  me  of 
her  lover'a 

lother's  con- 
in  concert, 

it? Oh  I 

>er  what  he 
e." 

"  I  would 
the  letter." 

ht  it  to  me 
'  he  did  not 
tore  up  an- 
the  substi- 

o,  even  to- 


UNA  LETTEKA  ANONIMA.  178 

nel  tempo  oh'  esaa  dormiva,  non  avendo  avuto  11  co- 
raggio  dl  accusarsi  e  domandarh  perdono  di  viva  vo- 
ce. Fanny  non  voile  che  si  facessero  ricerche  di  lei." 
Leggendo  quella  Icttera  si  era  svenuta,  sola,  scn/a 
soccorso,  se  1'  azzardo  non  mi  avesse  condotto  IL 
Questa  confessione  io  1'  ho  veduta." 

"  Basta,  basta ! "  grido  Giulio.  Quella  lettera  io  la 
ricevetti.  Fanny  h  morta,  e  son  io  che  l'  uccisi. 
Chi  dunque,  intorno  a  me  ordi  questa  barbara  tramai 
Fanny  ve  Io  ha  foi-se  detto  ? " 

"  Essa  non  nomin6  alcuno.  Spesso  pero  mi  parlo 
di  tentativi  fatti  presso  di,  lei  da  un  simco  della  fami- 
glia  del  suo  amante." 

"  Saint-Gilles  !  Ah !  Lui,  lui!  11  confidente  di  mia 
mudre  !  Converrik.  ch'  Io  credache  11  consenso  ch'  essa 
mi  aveva  d  to ....  Oh  I  no,  no !  Egll  ag\  da  sh.  Ades- 
BO  mi  sovvengo  dei  discorsl  che  in  quel  tempo  egll 
Boleva  tenermi.     Lui,  lui,  solo  accuso." 

"Se  foste  piii  calmo,"  disse  Ternisien,  "vi  dai-ei  la 
prova  che  vl  manca,  la  brutta  copia  della  lettera." 

"L'  avete  vol?" 

"Io  la  conaervai.  II  ragazzo  che  me  la  povtb  aveva 
ordine  di  farla  lacerare,  ma  slccome  egli  non  sapeva 
leggere,  Io  invece  strappal  un  altro  pe:!zo  di  carta 
senza  ch'  egli  si  accorgesse  di  questa  sostituzlone. 
Questa  brutta  copia  dev'  essere  a  casa." 

"  Domanl  me  la  porterete,  anzi,  no,  questa  sera. ... 
adesso ....  Ne  ho  bisogno,  partiamo  I " 


18 


' 'w'.^MiWUMmwMiiiwmwwJi.iw'-i'' 


^7*  AN  ANONYMOUS  LKTTER. 

Noticing  the  convulsive  joy  which  spioiid  over  tho 
features  of  Julius,  Ternisien  repented  of  having  con- 
rided  such  a  thing  to  him. 

"It  is  difficult  to  find  it  immediately;  it  is  neces- 
sary that  I  should  search  for  it.  Perhaps  it  exists  no 
longer.  However,  by  no  means  will  I  give  it  to  you 
unless  you  first  tell  me  for  what  purpose  you  intend 
to  use  it." 

"I  would  have  a  proof,  nothing  else."  replied  Ju- 
lius "a  proof  which  would  give  me  the  right  to 
spurn  the  author  of  that  letter." 

"All  right;  1  shall  leave  you  now,  and  to-morrow 
will  bring  it  to  you.     I  hope  to  find  it " 

Evening  had  arrived.  Ternisien  took  leave  of 
Julius  and  returned  to  his  room  very  much  confused. 
He  had  no  trouble  to  find  tho  letter.  He  thought  it 
right  to  take  precautions  against  the  youth's  anger, 
and  his  peaceful  character  made  him  believe  contempt 
to  be  a  sufficient  vengeance.  Valabert,  who  could 
not  believe  in  such  simplicity,  exclaimed  : 

"  He  will  not  give  me  this  proof,  but  do  I  really 
need  it?" 

,An  hour  afterward,  a  servant  went  out  fi-om  his  pal- 
ace with  thl-eo  letters.  Two  of  them  were  addressed 
to  friends  of  Julius,  the  third  to  Saint-Gillea. 


fad  over  the 
having  con- 
it  is  neccH- 
I  it  exists  no 
vo  it  to  you 
!  you  intend 

replied  Ju- 
tUe  right  to 

i  to-niorrovv 

ik  leave  of 
h  confused. 
!  thought  it 
uth's  anger, 
ve  contempt 
who  could 

do  I  really 

•om  his  pal- 

3  addressed 

ea. 


UNA  LETTEHA  ANONIMA.  176 

Rimarcandola  gioia  eonviilsa  che  sconiponova  i  line- 
ament! di  Giulio,  Ternisieu  si  pent\  di  avergli  fatta 
quella  coniidenza. 

"  Mi  sari  difficile  di  trovarla,  lA,  su  due  piedi,  biso- 

gnertl  ch'  io  la  cerchi ....  Foi-se  piu  non  esistc 

Del  resto  non  ve  la  con8egner6  senza  prima  conoscere 
r  uso  a  cui  la  destinate." 

"Desidero  una  prova,  nulla  piti,"  riprese  Giulio, 
"  una  prova  la  quale  mi  dia  il  diritto  di  disprezitare 
1'  autore  di  quell'  anonima  lettera." 

"  Meno  male  ;  vi  lascio  e  domattina  ve  la  portero. 
Spero  di  trovarla." 

La  sera  era  giunta.  Teniisien  si  separi  da  Giulio, 
e  tutto  frastornato  ritorn6  nella  sua  cameretta.  Non 
era  aft'atto  imbarazzato  di  ritrovni'e  lo  scritto  fatulo. 
Aveva  creduto  bene  di  prendere  le  sue  precauzioni 
eontro  1'  ira  del  giovine,  ed  il  suo  pacitico  carattere 
facevagli  considerare  lo  sprezzo  quale  sufticiente  ven- 
detta. Valabert  incredulo  a  tanta  sempliciti\  rimasto 
solo,  esclam6 : 

"  Egli  non  mi  dard  quella  prova ;  pe^o  ne  ho  io 
ditvvei'o  bisogno?" 

Un'  era  dopo  un  servo  munito  di  due  lettere  esciva 
dal  palazzo  Valabert.  Due  delle  lettere  erano  dirette 
a  due  amici  di  Giulio,  la  terza  a  Saint-Gilles. 


Jlil 


i 


17ft 


▲M  ANONYMOUS  UCTTEB. 


VI. 


THE  REVERSE  OF  THE  CARDS. 

Nearly  twenty  minutes  after  Ternision  had  entered 
his  room,  he  heard  a  knock  at  his  door.     This  noise 
interrupted  the  search  lie  was  already  making  among 
a  bundle  of  papers  to  find  the  autograph  he  had  prom- 
ised to  Julius  the  following  day.     As  he  did  not  ex- 
pect visitors,  and  as  in  his  preoccupation  he  had  not 
heard  the  front  door  shut,  so  at  first  he  thought  the 
noise  was  caused  by  the  wind  swinging  an  open  win- 
dow in  the  stairway,  and,  thei-efore,  without  further 
notice,  he  pursued  his  work.     After  a  moment,  he 
thought  he  heard  a  friction  which  ascended  and  de- 
scended along  the  door  as  if  produced  by  a  hand 
which  searched  in  the  darkness  for  the  string  of  a 
bell,  a  thing  completely  unknown  among  Ternisien's 
furniture. 

The  knocking  was  repeated  a  little  stronger  and 
with  greater  energy. 

"Who  is  there  and  what  do  you  want?"  asked 
Ternisien.  He  received  no  answer,  but  the  knocking 
was  repeated. 

"Come  again  to-morrow,"  said  the  good  man, 
alarmed  at  such  persistency,  and  fearing  to  be  the 
victim  of  some  snare,  "Come  agiiin  to-morrow ;  I  am 
alieady  in  bed  and  have  no  light." 


UNA  LRTTEHA  ANON  IMA. 


177 


D8. 

lad  entered 
This  noise 
ing  among 
I  Iind  prom- 
did  not  ex- 
he  hud  not 
lought  the 
open  win- 
jut  further 
loment,  he 
!(i  and  de- 
>y  a  hand 
string  of  a 
Fernisien's 

unger  and 

t?"  asked 
)  knocking 

ood  man, 
to  be  the 
low ;  I  am 


VL 
IL  ROVESCIO  DELLE  CARTE. 

Torn  in  ion  era  riontrato  nelle  sue  stuDzu  uppcna  da 
circa  venti  minuti,  alloroh^  ud\  piochiaro  dolcoment*) 
allu  sua  |X)rta.  Questo  rumoi-e  inten-uppe  le  ricerche 
ch'  egli  giA  faceva  in  mezzo  ad  un  muccliio  di  carte 
per  ritrovare  1'  autografo  che  i'  indomani  avea  pro- 
messo  di  oonsegnure  al  signor  Valabert 

Siccome  ei  non  attcndeva  visite,  e  siccome  nelle  sue 
preoccupazioni  non  aveva  udito  poco  prima  chiudersi 
la  porta  deila  via,  cosi  immagin6  che  fosse  il  vento  che 
netlascaiinatafucesse  battere  »iualche  linestra  apcrta,  e 
si  ripose  a  cercare.  Pussato  im  uccondo  gli  sembro  di 
ndire  un  sordo  stropiccio  che  saliva  e  scepdeva  lun- 
go  r  asse  deir  uscio  come  prodotto  da  mano  che  al 
r  oscuro  cercasse  la  corda  di  un  campanello,  oggetto 
Boonosciuto  f  ra  le  masserizie  di  Temisien. 

Una  seconda  iiata  venne  bussato  un  poco  piii  forte 
e  con  maggiore  energia. 

"Chi  e  la?  che  cosa  voletei"  domand6  TemiMen. 

Non  ricevette  risposta,  ma  di  bel  nuovo  venne  pio- 

chiato. 

"Ritornnte  domani,"  disse  il  buon'  uomo,  inquieto 

di  una  simile  insistenza,  e  teniendo,  ove  aprisse,  di 

cader  vittima  di  qualche  tranello  j  "  ritomate  domani, 

sono  gi^  in  letto." 


m 


1  78  AN  ANONYMOUS  r<KTTKR. 

Unhappily,  the  oandlo,  tlio  light  of  whioh  wrw  seen 
through  tln'  criKiks  of  his  door,  belied  his  words. 

"Open  the  door,  pleiwe,"  nsked  a  sweet  and  trem- 
bling voice;  "you  have  nothing  to  fear  from  the  per- 
son speaking  toyou."  Ternlsien  decideii  to  open  the 
door. 

A  veiled  woniiui  quickly  entered  the  room.  She 
seemed  a  victim  of  the  greatest  agitation,  and  when 
she  raised  her  veil  to  l>reath«5  at  ease,  the  old  professor 
uttered  an  exclamation  of  siu-prise  on  observing  the 
change  which  a  few  hours  had  produced  in  her 
features. 

"Close  the  door,"  said  she. 

Before  obeying,  Ternisien  cast  a  glance  at  the 
staircase.    .. 

"Alone?  you  are  alone,  madam  !  " 
•«  Nobody  knows  nor  ought  to  know  of  my  visit 
to  your  house.  Swear  to  me,  sir,  that  if  you  should 
be  questioned,  you  will  not  reveal  that  I  came  here.'* 
"Madam,"  replied  Ternisien,  still  more  amazed  Uy 
the  visit  and  by  the  mystery  that  this  lady  put  in  it, 
"Madam,  it  is  not  customary  for  me  to  pledge  my- 
self so  easily  to  such  oaths,  which  sometimes  become 
painful  and  difficult  to  keep.  When  you  will  have  the 
kindness  to  explain  the  causes  which  brought  you 
here,  I  will  try  to  pledge  you  the  promise  you  ask." 


oh  wjw  sppn 
words, 
t  tind  trem- 
(nn  tho  por- 
to  open  tho 

•oom.  She 
,  Hiui  when 
d  professor 
serving  tho 
;ed  in  her 


ice  at  the 


f  my  visit 
l^ou  should 
irae  here." 
amazed  l»y 
'  put  in  it, 
ledge  rav- 
es become 
II  have  the 
ought  you 
you  ask." 


UNA  I.KTTKIIA  ANONlMA.  ItO 

Di><jrniziutiiniente  In  caudflii  di  cui  Heor^jeviisi  it 
bii^liore  a  travorso  lo  fessure  d<'lla  porta,  diiva  luia 
suiciitita  a  quell'  asserzione. 

"  Aprite  ill  gnizia, "  gli  (ihiese  una  voce  <l()l*e  o  tre- 
mante,  "nulla  doveto  paventare  dachi  vi  prega.    Mtin 
riconoHccte  t'oi-so  la  voce  di  elii  vi  parla  { " 
Ternisien  si  dccise  di  apriiv. 

Una  signora  velata  entro  lestamente  nella  camera. 
Semimiva  ch'olla  fosse  in  preda  alia  i)iii  viva  agita- 
ziono  ed  alhmiuando  alzo  il  velo  [xr  mcglio  rcspinire, 
il  veccliio  professoro  la«ci6  sfuggire  un'  esclainazione 
di  sorpresa  nell'  osservare  il  cambianionto  che  le  pocho 
are  avevano  prodolto  suUe  sembianze  della  signora 
Valabert. 

"Chiudete  1'  uscio,"  diss'  ella. 
Prima  di  ubbidire  Ti-ruisien  gett6  un'  occhiata  sullft 
Bcaiinata. 

"  Sola?  vol  siete  sola,  signora  <" 
«'>iessuno  sa,  ne  deve  sapere  la  mia  venuta  in  vostra 
casa.     Giurateiui  signoro,  che  se  siete  interrogate),  nou 
palesereto  ch'  io  sia  qui  venuta." 

"Signora,"  riprese  Ternisien,  di  piii  in  piu sorpreso 
della  visita,  e  del  mistero  die  quella  donna  vi  poneva, 
"signora  non  e  mia  abitudine  d'  impegnarmi  alia  leg- 
giera  in  simili  giuramenti  che  qualche  volta  riescono 
penosi  e  difticili  a  mantenere.  Alloniuimdo  avrelo 
avuto  la  bont^,  di  spiegarmi  il  motivo  che  qui  vi  trasse. 
vi  faro  la  domandata  promesaa." 


1^^  AN  ANONTMOUS  LETTER. 

"I  undei-staud  your  prudence,  but  have  no  fear; 
the  secret  I  ask  is  more  necessary  to  me  than  to  you. 
Be  yourself  the  judge." 

She  cast  her  eyes  around  the  room,  and,  after  a 
few  minutes,  added : 

"Here  we  must  talk  low,  must  we  not^  Others 
can  hear  what  is  said." 

"  Yes,  madam,  it  was  in  this  same  room  that,  with- 
out caring  for  it,  I  heard  the  -smothered  moans  of  the 
unhappy  Fanny.  You  were  not  in  the  parlor  when 
I  finished  the  narration  of  that  very  sad  story  ? " 

"Yes,  yes,"  interrupted  Adele  with  an  abrupt  and 
agitated  tone  of  voice,  "I  know  that  that  Fannv  is 
dead." 

"After  my  departure,  Mr.Valabert  had  the  time  to 
tell  you  ? " 

"I  have  not  seen  him  since." 

"Yet  he  is  ignorant  that  you  have  come  to  visit  me  ?" 

"He  is." 

"But,  madam,  if  this  evening  he  should  discover 
your  absence  ? " 

"This  evening? O,  this  evening  he  will  not 

think  of  what  I  may  have  done.     Now  he  does  not 
think  of  me  any  more  I " 

In  spite  of  his  want  of  penetration  and  his  absolute 
ignorance  of  passion,  Teraisien  began  to  guess  the 
secret  giief  which  thus  changed  the  features  of  Mrs. 
Vairibert  and  gave  to  her  eyes  that  insane  expression 


ve  no  fear; 
;han  to  you. 

ind,  after  a 

)t  f    Others 

I  that,  with- 
loans  of  the 
>arlor  when 
ory?" 
abrupt  and 
t  Fanny  is 

the  time  to 

>  visit  me  ?*' 

d  discover 

3  will  not 
le  does  not 

is  absolute 
guess  the 
5S  of  Mrs. 
expression 


tJNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  181 

"Capisco  la  vostra  prudenza,  ma  siate  senza  timore, 
la  discrezione  ch'  esigo  h  piii  necessaria  per  me  che 
voi.     Giudicatene." 

Volse  gli  occhi  intomo  alia  camera,  e  dopo  qualche 
instiinte  di  silenzio  aggiunse : 

"  Qui  bisogna  parlare  a  voce  bassa  n'  e  vero?  Ac- 
canto  si  puo  bene  udire  tutto  quello  che  qui  si  dice. " 

"Si,  signora,  fu  da  quesbi  stessa  camera  che  senza 
voler  ascoltai'e,  udii  i  soffocati  gemiti  della  disgra- 
ziata  Fanny.  Voi  non  eravate  piu  presente  quando 
tinii  di  raccontare  a  vostro  marito  queila  tristissima 
istoria." 

"Si,  si,"  interruppe  con  voce  breve  ed  agitata, 
"  queila  Fanny  e  morta  lo  so." 

"Dopo  la  mia  partenza,  il  signor  Valabert,  ebbc 
11  tempo  di  raccontarvi . . . . " 

"Nonlo  vidi." 

,"  Ignora  egli  che  voi  siete  qui  venuta  a  visitarmi  ? " 

•'Loignora." 

"  Ma,  signora,  se  qucsta  sera  si  accorge  della  vostra 
assenzal " 

"  Questa  sera ! . . . .  o  questa  sera  egli  non  penserA  ad 
infurmarsi  di  quanto  posso  aver  fatto.  In  questo  mo- 
mento  ei  piii  non  pensa  a  me." 

Malgrado  la  sua  minima  naturale  penetrazione  e  la 
sua  assoluta  ignoranza  delle  passioni,  Ternisien  comin- 
ciava  ad  indovinare  qual  secreto  dolore  alterasse  in 
tal  guisa  il  viso  della  signora  Valabert,  e  dasse  ai  suoi 


I 


, 


1^  ■ 


I 


182  AK  AJiONVMOUS  LETTEtt. 

and  to  her  voice  that  strange  inflection.  He  recol- 
lected the  tears  Valabert  had  not  been  able  to  hide 
from  her,  and  with  what  words  he  had  entreated  her 
.to  retire.  Jealou-^y  was  gnawing  her  heart,  but  he 
could  not  yet  guess  the  motive  which  had  brought 
her  to  his  lodgings. 

She  motioned  him  to  sit  down  beside  her. 

"Have you  kept  thecopy  of  thatanonymous letter?" 

Tcmisien  stared  at  her  with  astonishment,  not  know- 
ing whether  she  was  questioning,  or  affirming  a  fact 
well  known  to  her. 

'*  Tou  have  kept  it,"  she  continued  ;  "  to-morrow 
you  are  going  to  give  it  to  my  Imshand.  Do  not  try 
to  deny  it ;  from  the  next  room  I  heard  all,  I  know 
all.  Even  when  your  voice  or  his  had  not  reached 
me,  my  gaze  would  have  pierced  through  the  thick- 
ness of  the  walls  and  guessed  your  words  from  the 
simple  movement  of  your  lips.  You  must  give  me 
the  copy  of  that  letter." 

"  Madam,  1  promised  to  give  it  to  your  husband." 

*'  ToTiim  or  to  me,  what  matters  it  to  you  il  " 

"  If  you  are  here  with  his  consent." 
'    "To-morrow  you  will  write  him  that  you  have  lost 
that  paper,  and  he  will  believe  it.     Have  you  not 
already  made  its  existence  doubtful?" 

*'  Indeed,  I  fear  I  have  told  the  truth." 


I.  He  recol- 
able  to  hide 
intreated  her 
leart,  but  he 
had  brought 

ler. 

mous  letter?" 
nt,  not  know- 
rming  a  fact 

'*  to-morrow 
Do  not  try 
I  all,  I  know 
not  reached 
fh  the  thick- 
ds  from  the 
ust  give  me 

ir  husband." 

^ou  il » 

ou  have  lost 
ve  you  not 


UNA  LETTERA  ANOmMA.  1*8 

occhi  quell'  eepressiono  di  foilia  or^  alia  sua  voce  quel- 
la  strana  infleesione.  Si  ricordava  dalle  lagrimc  ohe 
il  signer  Valabert  non  aveva  potuto  nascondere  in 
sua  presenza  e  con  quali  parole  ei  1'  avesse  preg^ta  di 
ritirarsi.  La  gelosia  doveva  mordere  il  suo  cuore,  ma 
non  poteva  ancora  comprendere  qual  motivo  potesse 
averla  condotta  in  sua  casa. 

Ella  gli  fe'  cenno  di  sedersi  accanto  a  lei. 

"  Avete  conservata  la  brutta  copia  di  quell'  anoni- 
ma  lettera  ? " 

Ternisien  la  guard6  sbalordito,  non  arrivando  a  ca- 
pire  se  ella  intendesse  d'  inteiTogare,  ovvero  affer- 
masse  un  fatto  del  quale  fosse  sicura. 

"Voir  avete  conservata,"  ella  riprese,  "Domani 
dovete  darla  a  mio  marito.  Non  provate  di  negarlo. 
Dalla  camera  attigua  udii  tutto,  so  tutto.  Quand'  an- 
che  la  vostra  voce  e  la  sua  non  fossero  giunte  alle 
mie  orecchie,  i  miei  sguardi  avrebbero  attraversato  la 
spessezza  dei  muri  ed  avrebbero  indovinato  le  parole 
dal  solo  movimento  delle  vostre  labbra.  Bisogna  the 
mi  consegniate  la  copia  di  quella  lettera." 

"  Signora  ho  promesso  di  darla  avostro  marito." 

"  A  lui,  owero  a  me  che  cosa  importa  r* 

*'Se  siete  qui  col  suo  consenso " 

"  Domani  gli  scriverete  che  1'  avete  smarrita  ed  cgli 
vi  creder^  Forse  non  gliene  avete  gi^  messo  in  dub- 
bio  l' esistenza  ? " 

"  Temo  infatti  di  aver  detto  ii  vero.'* 


184  AN  ANONTMOU8  LETTFB. 

"No;  at  the  beginning  you  quite  assented  that  it 
was  yet  in  your  hands,  and  already  you  have  begun 
tlie  search.  I  will  have  that  copy.  Give  it  to  me, 
sir;  sell  it  to  me,  ask  for  it  whatever  price  you  will ; 
you  are  poor  and  I  can  enrich  you. " 

Speaking  so  rapidly  as  not  to  leave  him  time  to 
answer,  she  had  opened  her  satchel. 

Then  she  added  :  "  Here  are  four  bills  of  a  thou- 
sand francs  each ;  these  are  not  enough  ? 1  know 

it this  is  what  1  had  in  the  casket.     I  will  give 

more,  much  mure ;  I  will  treble  the  sum twenty 

thousand  francs and  then  I  have  jewels here, 

take." 

Her  color,  before  pale,  had  animated,  her  hands 
with  a  movement  so  rapid  as  hardly  to  be  followed  by 
the  eyes,  emptied  the  satchel.  A  pearl  necklace,  pi-e- 
cious  stones,  diamonds,  rings,  her  own  ear-rings,  in 
the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  were  thrown  upon  the  knees 
of  Temisien. 

The  poor  man,  astounded,  contemplated  her.  On 
the  flaps  of  his  ragged  coat  was  a  sum  tenfold  larger 
than  he  had  before  possessed  in  all  his  life-time,  and 
this  unexpected  fortune  was  given  him  without  reck- 
oning; yes,  it  was  his  own.  It  was  enough  that  he 
should  extend  his  arm  and  shut  his  hands  to  become 
the  master  of  it.  But  such  were  not  the  thoughts  in 
Temisien's  mind.  Between  the  wealth  he  had  never 
known  and  the  misery  which  was  shortenmg  his  life 


nted  that  it 

have  begun 

ve  it  to  me, 

tse  you  will ; 

lim  time  to 

of  a  thou- 

1  know 

I  will  give 

I twenty 

2ls here, 

,  her  hands 
followed  by 
cklace,  pi-e- 
»ar-rings,  in 
n  the  knees 

d  her.  On 
ifold  larger 
:e-time,  and 
ithout  reck- 
igh  that  he 
)  to  become 
thoughts  in 
)  had  never 
mg  his  life 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA. 


186 


'No,  Bul  bel  prinoipio  asseriste  come  si  trovasse 
ancora  in  vostro  possesso,  e  g\k  avcte  cominciato  a 
oercarla.  Voglio  la  copia  di  quella  lettera,  datemela 
signore,  vendetemela,  domandate  il  prezzo  ch'  esigete, 
siete  povero  ed  io  posso  amcchirvi." 

Farlando  con  tanta  rapidity  da  non  lasciargli  tempo 
di  rispondere  essa  aveva  aperto  la  sua  borsa. 

"Prendete,"  aggiunse,  "ecco  quattro  biglietti  da 
mille  lire,  non  bastano....lo  so  bene ....  quest'  e 
quunto  aveva  neUo  scrigno.  Ve  ne  dar6  dippiu,  molto 
dippiii  triplicher6  la  somma ....  ventimila  lire . . . .  e 
poi  ho  delle  gioie. . .  .prendete." 

II  Buo  colorito,  dapprima  cos!  pallido,si  era  animate, 
i  suoi  oc^hi  scinti  lavano,  le  sue  mani  con  un  movi- 
mento  cosi  rapido  da  potere  appena  essere  seguito  da- 
gli  occhi,  vuotavano  il  contenuto  del  sacchetto.  Una 
coUana  di  perle,  delle  pietre  preziose,  diamanti,  anelli, 
finanche  gli  orecchini  in  un  batter  d'  occhio  caddero 
suUe  ginocchia  di  Ternisien. 

II  pover'  uomo  la  contemplava  attonito.  Jjh  suUe 
falde  del  suo  lacero  abito  trovavasi  una  somma  dieci 
volte  pill  considerabile  dell'  assieme  del  danaro  ch'  egli 
aveva  posseduto  nel  corso  della  sua  vita,  o  quella  non 
sperata  fortuna  gli  vehiva  data  senza  contare,  era  sua. 
Bastava  solo  ch'  egli  stendesse,  chiudesse  la  mano  per 
diventame  possessore.  Ma  questo  pensiero  non  occu- 
pava  la  mente  di  Ternisien.  Fra  la  ricchezza  ch'  egli 
mai  aveva  conosciuto,  e  la  miseria  che  raccorciava  la 


ii.H.nii|iiiiW'WI»?jgWHI 


186  AN  ANONYMOUS  LKTTKR. 

in  that  honest  heart,  was  no  place  for  speculalion,  how- 
ever excusable  it  might  be.  With  trembling  voice 
and  tears  in  his  eyes,  he  iddressed  Mrs.  Valabeil; : 

"  Are  you,  then,  very  unhappy  i " 

"Yes,  very  mihappy,"  she  answered,  "and  it  is  in 
your  power  that  I  may  be  so  no  longer ;  you  can  give 
mo  peace  and  insure  my  happiness.  Do  you  accept 
it,  then?" 

"  The  recital  of  that  story  has  awakened  in  your 
husband  the  remembrance  of  a  former  love.     Is  it 
not  true  ?     I  ought  to  have  perceived  this  and  bi'oken 
it  off  when  he  entreated  you  to  go  out  of  the  room;  I 
ought  not  to  have  re-opened  a  wound   yet  unhealed. 
You  must  forgive  me,  madam,  the  evil  that  J  have 
unwillingly  caused  you.     I  had  present  in  my  mem- 
ory the  death  of  that  poor  woman,  who  was  an  angel 
of  virtue,— I  could  swear  it, — and  who  has  been  so 
falsely  calumniated.     If  you  had  known  her  as  I  did, 
if  you  had  heard  her  protest  her  innocence,  you  would 
not  have  required  this  irrefutable  proof  to  have  been 
coavinced  of  it.     But  forgive  me,  madam,  if  I  again 
afflict  you  in  speaking  of  her,  and  forget  what  1 
learned  but  a  few  minutes  ago,  namely,  that  love  is 
jealous  of  a  rival  who  does  not  even  exist  any  more. 
You  are  afraid  that  your  husband  would  become  at- 
tached to  that  souvenir,  and  that  at  your  side  he  woultl 
remember  her  whom  he  loved.     How  the  possession 
of  that  letter  could  make  you  happy  is  what  I  am 


HilHlion,  how- 
mbling  voice 
Valabeil; : 

"and  it  is  in 
you  can  give 
3  you  accept 

)ned  in  your 

love.  Is  it 
)  and  bi'oken 
the  room;  I 
et  unhealed. 

that  J  have 
in  my  mem- 
vas  an  angel 

has  l)een  so 
her  as  I  did, 
3,  you  would 
:o  have  been 
n,  if  I  again 
•get  what  1 
that  love  is 
t  any  more. 

become  at- 
de  he  would 
i  possession 
what  I  am 


UNA  liETTKRA  ANONIMA.  IS? 

sua  veochiaia  in  quel  cuore  onesto  e  8empli<^o  uon 
cravi  accesso  ad  un'  idea  di  spcculazione,  per  quunto 
scusabile  essa  avrebbe  potuto  esscre. 

Egli  con  voce  commossa  e  colle  lagrimo  agli  oct-hi  si 
dirosse  alln  signora  Valabert. 

"  Siete  dunque  molto  infelico,  signora?" 

"Si,  infelicissima,"  ensa  risposf,  "da  vol  dipendc 
che  io  pill  non  lo  sia,  voi  potote  r<  stituirmi  il  riposo  eel 
assiciurare  la  mia  felicitd.   Accettate,  signore  ?  " 

"II  racconto  di  quest'  avventura  ha  risvegliato  in 
vostro  marito  il  ricordo  di  un  antico  amore,  non  e 
cgli  vero  1  Avrei  dovuto  accorgermene  ed  intcrrom- 
perlo  allorchfe  egli  vi  prog(*)  di  uscire,  avrei  dovuto  non 
aprire  qxiella  ferita  quasi  cicatrizzata.  Bisogna  perdo- 
narnii  il  male  che  involontarianiente  vi  ho  procuruto  : 
aveva  presente  alia  memoria  lu  niorte  di  quel  la  povcra 
donna  oh'  era  un  angelo  di  virtu,  posso  giurarle,  e  ch'  h 
stata  cosi  indegnamente  calunniata.  Se  voi  1'  aveste 
conosciuta  alpai'i  di  me,  se  voi  I'  aveste  udita  prote- 
stare  della  sua  innocenza,  per  esserne  convinto  non 
avreste  avuto  bisogno  di  questa  invcusabile  prova. 
Ma,  perdono  signora,  se  di  bcl  nuovo  vi  affliggo  parlan- 
dovi  di  lei,  e  se  dimentico  ci6  che  solo  da  pochi  minuti 
injparai,  che  cioe,  1'  ainore  h  geloso  eziandio  di  una 
I'ivale  che  piii  non  esiste.  Voi  temete  che  vostro  mjir 
rito  si  affezioni  a  questo  ricordo,  che  al  vostro  tianco, 
presso  di  voi,  ramraenti  colei  che  am6.  In  qual  modo 
per6  11  possesso  di  questa  lettera  possa  rendervi  felice 


--  wiiatjawiJiJiiia,'-.--. 


188  AN  ANONTMOUS  LETTEB. 

not  able  to  understand.  What  interest  causes  you 
to  wish  so  ardently  for  it  as  to  be  ready  to  purchase 
it  with  your  whole  fortune? " 

Because  Adele  had  not  a  satisfactory  answer  ready, 
or  because  the  emotion  by  which  she  was  agitated 
was  too  strong,  she  remained  silent. 
Terni'ien  continued  : 

"  When  I  saw  that  Mr.  Julius  wished  for  that  letter, 
I  immediately  told  him  that  perhaps  it  would  be  im- 
possible for  me  to  find  it,  because  I  was  afraid  that, 
recognizing  the  handwriting,  he  would  have  gone  to 
ask  satisfaction  of  him  who  had  written  it.  He  has 
re-assured  me.  What  ought  I  to  suppose,  now  that 
I  see  you  troubled  by  such  a  fear  ? " 

"Well,  yes,  I  fear  that  he  may  expose  his  life," 
answered  Adele,  as  if  the  last  words  of  Ternisien  had 
given  her  the  excuse  she  had  been  searching  for. 
"Your  friendship  for  him  has  surmised  the  misfor- 
tune which  my  love  tries  to  prevent  That  is  why  I 
came  here  at  this  late  hour,  and  why  I  beg  you  not  to 
speak  to  any  one  of  my  visit.  I  know,— do  not  ask 
how  I  know,— the  pereon  who  wrote  that  letter;  my 
husband,  too,  will  recognize  the  handwriting;  they 

will  fight,  be  sure  of  it;  perhaps  he  will  be  killed. 

Twice  I  will  lose  him  on  account  of  that  unhappy 

woman.     Give  me  that  letter ^let  me  destroy  that 

proof and  when  he  has  only  simple  suspicions- 

when  the  gu..cy  one  is  able  to  deny,  and,  theinfore,' 


U 


;  causes  yoii 
r  to  purchase 

nswer  ready, 
was  agitated 


>r  that  letter, 
rould  be  im- 
afraid  that, 
lave  gone  to 
it.  He  has 
se,  now  that 

>8e  his  life," 
ernisien  had 
irching  for. 
the  misfor- 
lat  is  why  I 
?you  not  to 
-do  not  a8l( 
t  letter;  my 
iting;  they 

killed. 

»t  unhappy 
iestroy  that 
suspicions ; 
I,  therefore, 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  189 

h  quanto  io  non  so  comprundore.  Quale  intereuHe 
po88a  Hpingervi  adesso  a  coal  ardentoniente  deHiderarlti 
da  esHore  prunta  a  pagarla  coUa  vostra  intera  fortunu  i" 

Sia  che  Adele  non  avesse  presente  una  risposta,  8o- 
di.sfacente,  sia  che  I'emozione  dalla  quale  essa  era  agi- 
tata fosse  troppoviolenta,ella  riniiiiie  suiiisa  rispondcre. 
Ternisien  continu6 : 

"  Allnrchfe  vidi  che  il  signor  Giulio  desiderava  quo- 
sta  copia,  subito  gli  di»si  che  forse  sarebbe  stato  iin- 
posaibile  di  ritrovarla,  giacch^  temei  ch'  egli  ricono- 
sceudo  la  calligrafia  si  rocasse  a  domandare  sodJHfa- 
zione  a  colui  che  V  aveva  scritta.  Egli  mi  riauai- 
curo.  Che  cosa  debb'  io  immaginare  adeaso  che  vi 
vedo  agitata  da  tanto  spavento  il" 

"  Ebbene,  si,  temo  ch'  egli  esponga  la  sua  vita," 
rispose  Adele,  quasi  le  ultime  parole  di  Ternisien 
le  avesscro  offerto  la  scusa  ch'  ella  cercava.  La  vo- 
stra amicizia  per  iui  ha  indovinato  la  disgrazia  che  il 
mio  amore  cerca  di  prevenire.  Ecco  perohe,  signore, 
eon  V  ;nuta  qui  sola  a  quest'  oraavanzata,  e  perche  vi 
domando  di  non  parlare  ad  alcuno  della  mia  visita.  Io 
so,  non  mi  chiedete  come  Io  sappia,  chi  ha  scritto 
caella  lettera;  mio  marito  pure  riconoscer^  la  scrittura, 
ji  batter^,  siatene  sicuro;  forse  sar^  ucciso ....  due 
volte  Io  pei'der6  a  cagione  di  quella  disgraziata  donna. 

Datemi  quella  lettera ch'  io  distrugga  quella  prova 

ed  allorch^  egli  non  uvrk  pih.  che  semplici  so- 

vpetti,  itUurche  il  colpevole  potrik  negare  e  cosi  rifiu- 

M 


^ 


190  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETrKK. 

refuse  to  fight,  then  I  will  bo  happy  or  at  Iea«t  at  enae 
al)out  my  husband's  life.  Thib  lottwr,  1  aak  for  it 
uiwn  my  knoef  " 

"Rise,  madam,"  said  Ternisien.  ••  I  am  too  sorry  for 
all  that  has  happened  not  to  give  you  back  your 
tranquillity.  The  oath  you  ask  from  me,  I  give  you 
willingly.  I  will  hide  your  visit  from  Mr.  Valabort, 
but  take  this  money  again,  take  back  these  jewels ;  I 
will  not  accept  them.  In  returning  you  this  letter,  I 
intend  only  to  repair  a  wrong  done  and  not  to  give 
you  back  a  proof." 

In  so  speaking,  Ternisien  returned  to  Mrs.  Valsr 
bert  the  bills  and  jewels  she  had  handed  him.  He 
went  to  the  table  on  which  some  papei-s  were  scat- 
tered, searched  a  little  and  afterwards  returned  to- 
wards Adole.  Seeing  the  yellow  paper  he  had  in  his 
hands,  she  jumped  and  seized  it  with  a  convulsive 
movement.  While  she  was  reading,  a  strange  change 
was  taking  place  in  her,  a  change  which  only  the  wish 
to  prevent  a  challenge  by  destroying  that  proof  could 
not  justify  to  eyes  more  expert  than  those  of  Terni- 
sien. In  her  joy  was  something  of  frenzy.  One 
would  have  said  that  of  the  two  opposite  natures  ex- 
isting in  her,  the  most  violent — for  a  long  time 
bridled  by  an  iron  will— had  finally  buret  forth  and 
removed  all  obstacles — overflowed  by  hfer  violent  pas- 
sions.   Her  features,  the  miiTor  of  a  new  soul,  seemed 


"^!l 


lea«t  at  eiue 
.  utik  for  it 

joo  sorry  for 
buck  your 
,  I  give  you 
r.  Vulnbert, 
86  jewels ;  1 
this  letter,  I 
not  to  give 

Mrs.  Valtt- 
1  bim.  He 
i  were  scut- 
'eturned  to- 
e  had  in  his 
i  convulsive 
mge  change 
ily  the  wish 
proof  could 
Be  of  Terni- 
enzy.  One 
natures  ex- 
long  time 
t  foi-th  and 
violent  pas- 
oul,  seemed 


UNA  LETTRRA  ANONIMA.  191 

tare  il  duello,  allora  sar6  felice.  o  almeno  tranquilla 
sulla  vita  di  mio  marito.  Quella  letteru,  ve  la  do- 
mando  in  ginocchio." 

"Alzatevi,  signora,"  dme  Ternision.'  "  Sono  troppo 
dispiaciuto  di  quanto  h  uccaduto  per  non  restituirvi  il 
riposo.  II  giuramento  che  mi  richiedote,  ve  lo  do  di 
buon  core,  nusconderi)  al  Hignor  Valaliert  la  visita  du 
voi  fattami ;  ma  riprendete  questo  danuro,  riprendete 
queste  gioie,  non  le  accettin-o.  Restituendovi  la  lettora 
intendo  riparare  un  torto  e  non  gid  restituirvi  una 
prova." 

Cosi  parlundo  Ternisien  rlmetteva  alia  signora  Va- 
ifibei't  i  biglietti  e  le  gioie  eh'  essa  aveva  poaate  su  lui. 
Si  alz6,  si  diresse  vei-so  la  tavola  dov'  erano  Mparse  le 
carte,  cerco  un  poco  e  poscia  ritorn^  verso  Adele. 
Nello  scorgere  il  foglio  gialliccio  ch'  egli  teneva 
nelle  mani,  esse  fece  un  salto  e  se  ne  impadroni  con 
un  moto  convulsivo.  Mentre  lo  leggeva,  si  ope- 
rava  m  lei  uno  strano  cambiameuto  che  ad  occhi  pid 
esperti  di  Ternisien  sarebbe  ^stato  insufficientemente 
spiegato  dal  solo  desiderio  d'  impediro  nii  duello  di- 
struggendo  quella  prov&  Nella  gioia  vi  era  mesco- 
latu  un  non  so  che  di  frenetico.  Si  sarebbe  detto  che 
delle  due  opposte  nature  che  in  lei  si  rimarcavano  la 
piii  violenta,  g\k  pria  tenuta  in  f reno  da  una  ferrea  vo- 
lontd,  alia  fine  scoppiava,  e,  tolto  ogni  ostacolo,strari- 
pava  coUe  sue  passioni  ardenti  e  terribili.  I  suoi  linea- 
uenti,  specchi  di  una  nuov'  anima  sembravano  avere 


*■■.- 


^^2  AN  ANONYMOUS  LBTIKK. 

to  have  assumed  another  character.  She  was  no  more 
the  timid,  submitting,  resigned,  suppliant  woman, 
but  a  Iion<'88  whicli  roared  whil«i  dcvotiriijg  her  prey. 
As  if  her  hands  wore  not  sufficient,  she  tore  the  slieet 
with  her  teeth,  and  then,  gathering  up  the  pieces, 
burned  them  in  tiie  flame  of  the  candle,  one  by  one. 
In  proportion  as  they  were  consumed,  lieic  eyes  shone 
and  followed  the  writhings  of  the  flume  as  if  they  were 
the  sufl'erings  of  an  agonized  victim.  As  soon  as  the 
lire  had  devoured  all,  she  dispei-sed  tho  blackened 
ashes  which  flew  around  her  with  a  {)uft". 

"Nothing  more,"  she  cried.  "  Behold  every  trace 
has  disappeared!  This  letter  never  existed.  1  am 
saved, — saved  I 

In  her  delirious  joy,  she  twisted  her  hands,  laughing 
and  crying  at  the  same  time.  She  thfew  hei-self  up(m 
the  neck  of  Temisien  before  he  was  ablo  to  express 
his  wonder  at  such  foolish  joy. 

' '  To  you  I  owe  my  happiness, "  she  replied ;  "I  will 
never  forget  it.  You  refuse  my  gifts,  but  come  to  see 
me,  sir ;  as  1  have  told  you,  my  fortune  is  yours.  I 
have  your  word  that  you  will  be  discreet;  is  it  not  so  'i 
Good-bye.  Do  not  accompany  me ;  I  will  find  my 
way.  The  important  thing  is  that  I  do  not  stay  here 
any  longer." 

She  opened  the  door,  rushed  to  the  staircase,  and, 
despite  the  darkness,  so  nimble  were  her  steps  that 
Ternisien  scarcely  heard  the  noise.     The  street  door 


uh  no  more 
lit  woiiiiin, 
,'  hr-r  pn-y. 
'c  tht)  ulu'ut 
the  pieccH, 
)ne  by  one. 
oyew  Hhone 
f  they  were 
30(>n  OB  the 
I  bhiukened 

every  trace 
ed.     1  am 

Is,  laughing 
oi-sulf  upon 
to  expre»8 

3d;  "Iwill 
;ome  to  see 

I  yours.  1 
s  it  not  so  'i 

II  find  my 
t  stiiy  here 

rcase,  and, 
'  steps  that 
itreet  door 


UNA  LBTTKHA  AMONIUA.  t98 

asHimto  un  nltro  cariittere.  Son  era  piii  In  donna 
timidn  e  HottonicHsa,  rassegnatii  e  Huppliclu^vole,  era 
uualeoneHna  (ihoruggiva  divorando  la  prida.  Quiwi  che 
le  Huemani  non  fossero  state  Hiittirionti,  essu  strapjm  il 
foglio  coi  denti  e  quindi,  riunendoue  i  pe/zctti,  li  l)ru- 
cio  alia  candela  I'uno  dopo  Taltro.  A  misura  che  I'ssi  si 
consumavano  i  stioi  sguardi  brillavano  e  tenevano  die- 
troalprogrcssodelle  tiaininecoinc  foasoroi  patimonti  e 
le  softerenze  di  una  vittimu  ugoni/zante.  Quando  il 
fuoco  ebbe  tutto  divorato,  twsa  con  un  soffio  disperse 
quelle  ceneri  annerite  che  voiurono  intorno  u  lei. 

"Pill  nulla!"  grido,  "ecco  sparita  ogni  traccial 
Questa  lettera  non  esist^  gianimai.  Salvata !  Suno 
salva  1 " 

Nella  sua  delirnnte  gioia  si  toroeva  lemani  ridendo  e 
piangendo  al  tempo  stesso.  Si  "^etto  al  coUo  di  Temi- 
sien  prima  che  questi  potosse  e  iprimere  la  sua  sorpresa 
per  una  cos\  insensata  allogria. 

"A  voi  debbo  la  mia  feliciUi,  riprese,  mai  lo  dimen- 
ticher6,  Voi  avete  ricusato  i  miei  doni,  ma  ritornate 
a|vedermi,  signorc,  ve  1'  ho  gid  dotto,  la  mia  fortuna  vi 
appartiene.     Ho  la  rostra  parola,  sarete  discreto  non 

e  vero?     A  rivedenii A  rivederci Non  mi  ac- 

compagnate.  8apr6  guidarmi.  L'  importtmte  e  ch'  io 
non  mi  tratteaga  qui  piii  a  lungo," 

Essa  apri  1'  uscio,  si  slancio  per  le  scale,  e  malgrado 
r  oscurit4  tale  era  la  leggerezza  del  sun  passo  che  Ter- 
nisien  appena  udivane  il  rumore.    La  porta  della 


^^ 


mmmtrntmimtK  s».m 


194  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

was  shut,  Teraisien  placed  himself  at  the  window  and 
by  the  uncertain  light  of  a  street  lamp  saw  her  turning 
a  corner  through  the  snow. 

For  some  time  the  old  professor  remained  thunder- 
struck at  what  had  happened.  A  thousand  different 
ideas  whirled  in  his  poor  head.  The  thought  of  evil 
was  the  last  one  which  could  enter  his  mind,  but,  upon 
thinking  of  the  offers  he  had  refused,  it  seemed  to  him 
that  if  he  had  accepted  them  it  would  have  been  a 
heavy  burden  on  his  conscience,  and  that  he  would 
have  been  obliged  to  return  the  gifts.  He  wrote  to  Mr. 
Valabert  that  all  his  researches  had  been  useless ;  that 
for  a  long  time  he  had  kept  that  paper,  but  that  it  ex- 
isted no  longer.  Then  he  went  to  bed,  but  was  unable 
either  to  sleep  or  to  banish  the  suspicions  which  in- 
cessantly presented  themselves  to  his  mind. 

Mre.  Valabert  had  returned  home  without  having 
been  even  inquired  for  by  her  husband  in  her  absence. 
During  the  night,  no  noise  troubled  the  quietness  of 
the  house.  At  dawn  the  following  morning,  Julius 
arose  from  the  table  where  he  had  spent  the  whole 
night  in  writing.  He  re-read  and  sealed  some  letters. 
A  very  long  one  was  addressed  to  his  wife;  another, 
which  also  contained  several  pages,  was  to  be  given 
to  the  notary  who  had  his  fortune,  and  contained  his 
last  depositions. 


iJwiiwimt 


"1^ 


indow  and 
ler  turning 

d  thunder- 
id  different 
ght  of  evil 
,  but,  upon 
aed  to  him 
ive  been  a 

he  would 
rote  to  Mr. 
ieless;  that 
that  it  ex- 
vaa  unable 

which  in- 

ut  having 
sr  absence, 
lietness  of 
ng,  Julius 
the  whole 
nae  letters. 
;  another, 
'  be  given 
fcained  his 


UNA  LRTTERA  ANONIMA.  19<5 

strada  si  chiuse,  Ternisien  s'  affaccio  alia  finestva  ed 
a  traverse  la  neve,  all'  incerta  luce  del  fanaie  egli  la 
vide  girare  1'  angolo  della  via. 

II  vecchio  professore  re9t6  qualche  tempo  come  stor- 
dito  di  quanto  era  accaduto.  Mille  confuse  idee  vol- 
teo-giavano  nella  sua  mente.  II  pensiero  del  male  era 
r  ultimo  che  il  suo  cervello  potesse  accogliere,  nulla- 
meno  riandundo  le  offerte  da  lui  rifiutate,  gli  sembra- 
va  ch'  ove  le  avesse  accettate  sarebl>ero  state  un  pe- 
sante  fardello  suUa  sua  coscienza  e  ch'  egli  sarebbe 
stato  costretto  di  restituire  quel  doni.  Scrisbe  al  si- 
gnor  Valabert,  qualmentc  egli  avesse  serbato  quella 
carta  per  lungo  tempo  e  qualmente  non  gli  fosse 
stato  piti  possibile  di  trovarla.  Si  corico  poscia  e 
non  gli  riesc\  di  conciliarsi  il  sonno,  nh  di  allontanare 
i  sospetti  che  continuatamente  si  presentavano  al  suo 

spirito. 

La  signora  Valabert  era  rientrata  senza  che  suo 
marito  avesse  pensato  a  domandarla.  Nella  notte  nes- 
sun  rumore  turb6  la  quiete  di  quella  casa.  L'  indo- 
mani  alio  spuntar  del  sole  Giulio  si  alzo  dal  tavolino 
dove  dopo,  ricevuto  le  risposte  alle  lettere  da  lui  in- 
viate  poco  innanzi  aveva  passata  la  notte  a  scrivere. 

Egli  rilesse  e  sigill6  alcune  lettere,  una  lunghissi- 
ma  diretta  a  sua  moglie,  un'altra  che  pure  forma- 
va  varie  pagine  doveva  essere  consegnata  al  notaio, 
presso  il  quale  trovavansi  tutti  i  titoli  di  sua  propriety, 
e  conteneva  le  sue  ultime  disposizioni  testamentarie. 


)«»«criattM»asti«EWS«?!».m«««»tS5'«^5»V5!ffir»^ 


1^^  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

His  wife's  room  was  separated  from  his  own  by  a 
smaller  one,  the  door  of  which  opened  between  the 
two  divisions  of  the  library.  He  directed  his  steps  to 
that  side,  and  listened  for  a  few  minutes.  All  around 
was  still.  "She  is  asleep,"  he  said;  "I  can  go  out, 
and  if  Heaven  is  just  I  shall  return  here  without 
troubling  her  rest.  In  two  hours  all  will  be  ended. 
He  or  I.  Let  me  go."  He  wrapped  himself  in  a 
clojik,  took  a  box  which  contained  the  pistols,  and 
softly  turned  the  key  in  the  lock. 

At  the  same  time,  the  door  opened  from  the  out- 
side and  Julius  found  himself  face  to  face  with  his 
wife,  pale,  troubled  and  with  a  countenance  which  tes- 
tified that  she,  too,  had  been  awake  all  night 

Surprise  made  Julius  draw  back.     Adele  entered, 
shut  the  cabinet  door  violently  and,  without  asking  or 
giving  explanations,  took  the  cloak  and  snatched  the 
pistol -box  from  her  husband's  hands. 
' '  You  were  going  out  to  fight, "  she  said. 
Julius,  scarcely  recovered  from  his  emotion,  replied : 
"I must  be  second  for  a  friend.     These  pistols  are 
for  him.     Adele,  do  not  be  afraid,  but  let  me  go. " 

"Oh!  you  cannot  deceive  me,"  she  said;  "you 
go  to  fight." 
"Adele!" 

"No  useless  words  1  no  false  oaths  !  You  are  going 
to  fight." 

"To tight?    Why?  and  against  whom? » 


.-  ^  ^..-;«  ^-JTiftTk^iaRV**.  'jfi,iimi^Aifi^'^--Sv!' 


1 


lis  own  by  a 
between  the 

I  his  steps  to 
All  around 

can  go  out, 
ere  without 

II  be  ended, 
liraself  in  a 
pistols,  and 

3m  the  ent- 
ice with  his 
e  which  tes- 
?ht. 

ele  entered, 
it  asking  or 
latched  the 


)n,  replied : 
pistols  are 
tne  go. " 
lid;   "you 


I  are 


going 


WIA  LETrERA  ANONIMA.  197 

La  onmera  d!  sua  moglie  era  separata  dalla  sua  solo  da 
una  caraerd:ta,  di  cui  la  porta  si  apriva  fra  i  due  coi'pi 
della  iibreria^ei  si  divesse  verso  quella  parte  e  per  qual- 
che  tempo  porse  1'  oreochlo.    Tutto  era  calmo, 

"Dorme,"  ei  disse,  "posso  uscire,  e  se  il  cielo  h 
giusto  rientrare  qui  senza  turbare  il  suo  sonno.  In 
due  ore  tutto  san\  finito;  io  o  lui.     Audiamo." 

Si  avvolse  in  un  mantello  prese  una  scatola  che  con- 
teneva  le  pistole  e  dolcemente  gir6  la  chiave  nella  ser- 
ratura.  Nel  tempo  stesso  la  porta  si  apri  dal  di  fuori 
e  Giulio  si  trovo  in  presenza  di  sua  moglie,  pallida 
stravolta  ed  in  tale  disordine  che  attestava  bene  essere 
ella  pure  rimasta  tutta  la  notte  senzu  dormire. 

La  sorpresa  fece  indietreggiare  Giulio.  Adele  en- 
tro,  richiuse  violentemente  la  porta  del  gabinctto  e 
senza  pronunziare  una  parola,  senza  domandare  una 
spiegazione,  tolse  il  mantello  e  strappu  dalle  mani 
di  Giulio  la  scatola  delle  pistole. 

■' Voi  uscivatc  per  andar  a  batteni,"  gli  dissc. 

Giulio  a  stento  rimesso  dall'  emozione,  rispose : 

"Questa  mattina  debbo  fare  da  padrino  ad  uuo  dei 
miei  amici.  Queste  pistole  sono  per  lui.  Adele  non 
temete  e  lasciate  ch'  io  parte." 

"  Ahtu  non  m'  ingannerai,  tu  vai  a  batterti." 

"Adele!" 

"Tregua  a  parole  inutili,  tregua  a  bugiardi  giura- 
menti." 

"  Battermi !  e  peroh^ !  e  contro  chi  t " 


198  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

"Against  whom?    Against  him  who  wrote  that 
anonymous  letter  and  whom  you  think  you  know. 
Why<    Because  you  wish  to  avenge  her  death  of 
whom  you  have  always  thought.     I  know  it,  1  tell 
you.     Does  the  heart  need  to  be  taught  that  it  is  for- 
saken i     Does  jealousy  need  to  be  enlightened  ?     Did 
I  not  see  you  yesterday,  while  that  man  was  speaking, 
forget  that  I  was  there,—!,  a  poor,  forsaken  woman, 
—and  only  recollect  it  to  pray  me  not  to  trouble  your 
grief  with  my  presence?    And  because  I  retired  you 
thought  I  had  not  heard  your  sobs,  or  the  question 
you  asked,  or  the  resolution  you  made  ?    Julius,  dare 
you  repeat  to  me  that  you  are  not  going  to  fight?" 

He  turned  his  eyes  toward  her,  and  making  an 
effort,  he  replied  with  a  grave  and  slow  voice :  "Adele, 
it  has  always  been  my  fate  to  put  to  a  trial  your  inex- 
haustible kindness,  which  made  an  angel  of  you. 
Once,  you  alone  rendered  justice  to  that  woman  whom 
you  now  detest  on  account  of  the  title  of  my  wife. 
Later,  when  I  was  very  near  dying,  you  again  consoled 
me ;  for  almost  two  years  you  surrounded  me  with 
attentions,  and  I  swear  to  you,  without  that  unforeseen 
revelation  which  threw  me  suddenly  into  the  past,  no 
moaning,  or  sorrow,    or  remembrance  would   have 
taken  place  in  my  heart.     Try  to  find  in  that  virtue 
which  no  other  woman  equally  possesses,  the  necessaiy 
strength  to  bear  this  last  blow.     Yes,  I  will  no  longer 


^y-'-inAkesi^ax:'-. 


10  wrote  that 
ik  you  know, 
her  death  of 
:now  it,  1  tell 
that  it  is  for- 
itened  ?  Did 
waa  speaking, 
akon  woman, 

trouble  your 
I  retired  you 

the  question 

Julius,  dare 
to  fight?" 
[  making  an 
ice:  "Adele, 
al  your  inex- 
igel  of  you. 
^oman  whom 

of  my  wife, 
^ain  consoled 
led  me  with 
t  unforeseen 
the  past,  no 
would  have 
I  that  virtue 
lie  necessaiy 

11  no  longer 


DMA  LETTBRA  AMONIMA.  100 

"  Contro  fihi  ?  contro  oolui  che  altruvolta  scrisse  quel- 
la  lettera  anomma  ohe  tu  presumi  conoscere.  Percht'  ? 
Perch^  vaoi  vendicare  la  morte  di  quella  donna  alia 
quale  hai  sempre  pensato.  lo  lo  so,  ti  dico,  il  cuore 
ka  forse  hisogno  che  gli  si  spieghi  1'  abbandono  'i  La 
gelosia  ha  forse  bisogno  di  venire  illuminata?  Non 
ti  ho  forae  veduto  ieri,  mentre  quell'  uomo  parlava,  di 
menticare  ch'  io  fossi  presente,  io,  povei*a,  abbando- 
nata  e  solo  ricordartene  per  pregiu'ini  di  non  distur- 
bare  coUa  mia  presenza  il  tuo  doloi'e?  E  perch^ 
io  mi  ritirai,  tu  pensi  ch'  io  non  abbia  udito  i  tuoi 
pianti,  n^  la  domajida  che  facosti,  nh  la  risoluzione  che 
prendesti?  Giulio  oserai  ancora  ripetermi  che  tu  non 
vai  a  batterti  ? " 

Egli  volse  gli  occhi  e  faccndosi  forza. 

"  Adele  ! "  riprese  con  voce  lenta  e  gi-ave,  "  fu  sem- 
pre mia  fatalitsV  di  mettere  a  prova  quell'  inesauribile 
bont^  che  fanno  di  voi  un  angelo.  Gi^  tempo,  voi  sola 
rendeste  giustizia  a  colei  che  a  cagione  del  vostro  titolo 
di  mia  consorte  oggi  voi  detestate.  Pid  tardi  quando 
poco  manc6  ch'  io  soccombessi,  voi  ancora  mi  conso- 
iaste ;  da  quasi  due  anni  voi  mi  circondaste  di  pre- 
miue,  di  attenzioni,  e  ve  lo  giuro,  senza  questa  impre- 
veduta  rivelazione  che  mi  ha  gettato  violentemente  nel 
passato,  nessun  lamento,  o  dispiacere,  o  ricordo  si  sa- 
rebbero  f  atto  strada  nel  mio  cuore.  Trovate  in  quella 
virtvi  che  nessun'  altra  donna  possedette  1'  eguale  la 
forza  necessaria  per  soppoi*tare  quest'  ultimo  colpo. 


200  AN  ANONYMOUS  LEITEK. 

deceive  you.   I  go  to  fight.    It  is  not  a  question  of  love, 
as  no  vengeance  can  give  life  again  to  her  who  no 
longer  exists,  but  the  infamous  person  who  calumni- 
att>d  the  woman  you  yourself  once  defended,  must  re- 
ceive the  price  of  his  falsehood.     To-day,  tomorrow, 
twenty  years  from  now,  so  long  as  my  hand  can  hold 
a  sword  or  direct  a  ball  through  the  heart  of  an  ad- 
versary, I  will  demand  satisfaction  for  that  vile  con- 
duct ;  I  will  avenge  Fanny's  death.    I  wished  to  avoid 
meeting  you,  Adele ;  I  feared  your  tears,  your  pains, 
your  reproaches,  but  my  last  thoughts  were  for  you. 
There,  on  the  mantel  piece,  is  a  letter  1  wrote  you,  in 
which  I  bade  you  the  last  farewell.     Receive  it  now, 
since  a  fatal  chance  has  brought  you  across  my  path, 
and  do  not  try  to  detjiin  me.     My  resolution  is  taken. 
It  is  a  reparation  that  I  owe  her;  and  in  risking  my 
life,  I  expiate,  in  my  opinion,  my  credulity  and  the 
eiTor  I  ought  to  have  repulsed  far  from  me." 

Adele  had  remained  before  him  dumb,  with  a  fixed 
gaze  and  clasped  hands,  but  when  she  saw  that  he 
again  prepared  to  leave,  she  seized  him  violently  by 
the  arm,  and  exclaimed  with  an  accent  of  subdued 
rage: 

"Then  1  must  again  resign  myself  to  be  patient? 
This  everlasting  duty  I  For  others,  the  passion,  the 
heart  which  burns  and  confides  itself— for  ne,  the 
coldness  of  marble.  No,  no  I  this  must  not  be  so ! 
He  asks  me  for  another  virtue,  while  I O  God  I 


«tion  of  love, 
her  who  no 
vho  calunini- 
ed,  must  re- 
to-morrow, 
and  can  hold 
*rt  of  an  ad- 
hat  vile  con- 
hed  to  avoid 
your  pains, 
ere  for  you. 
rote  you,  in 
seive  it  now, 
)8s  my  path, 
ion  is  taken. 
1  risking  my 
lity  and  the 
le." 

with  a  fixed 
saw  that  he 
nolently  by 
of  subdued 

be  patient  ? 
passion,  the 
for  ne,  the 
not  be  so ! 
— OGod! 


UNA  LBTTERA  ANONIMA.  201 

Si,  non  voglio  ingannarvi  piti  a  lungo.  vado  a  bat- 
termi.  Non  trattasi  gi4  di  amore,  dacch^  nessuna 
vendetta  pu6  ridonare  alia  vita  colei  che  piii  non  esiste, 
ma  1'  infame  che  'calunni6  la  donna  che  voi  stessa  difen- 
deste,  deve  ricevere  il  premio  delle  sue  bugle.  Oggi, 
domani,  di  qui  a  venti  anni,  finch^  il  mio  braccio  po- 
trA  sostenere  una  spada,  o  dirigere  una  palla  al  cuore 
di  un  avversario,  io  domander^  sodisfaziont  di  questo 
vigliacco  procedere,  e  cercher6  di  vendicare  la  morte 
di  Fanny.  Bramava  evitare  di  vedervi,  Adele,  temeva 
le  vostre  lagrime,  il  vostro  dolore  ed  i  vostri  rimpro- 
veri,  ma  i  miei  ultimi  pensieri  erano  diretti  a  voi.  L4 
8ul  cammino  h  una  lettera  ch'  io  vi  dirigeva  nella  qua- 
le vi  f aceva  i  miei  addii.  Prendetela  giacche  un  f unesto 
azzardo  vi  pose  sul  mio  passaggio,  n^  cercate  di  tratte- 
nermi.  La  mia  risoluzione  h  presa.  E'  una  ripara- 
zione  che  le  devo,  e  rischiando  la  mia  vita  espio  ai 
miei  occhi  la  mia  credulitA  e  1'  errore  che  avrei  dovuto 
respingere." 

Adele  era  rimasta  dinnanzi  a  lui,  muta,  Io  sguardo 
fisso  e  le  mani  unite;  per6  allorch^  vide  ch'  egli  di  bel 
nuovo  si  disponeva  ad  uscire  Io  afferr6  violentemente 
pel  braccio. 

"  Dunque,"  grid6  con  accento  di  concentrata  rab- 
bia,  ''bisogna  che  mi  rassegni  di  bel  nuovo?  Aver 
pazienza  ?  Ecco  il  mio  eterno  dovere  !  Ad  altri  le 
pa8sioni,il  cuore  che  avvampa  e  che  si  confida,  a  me  la 
freddezza  e  1'  insensibilitS  del  marmo  I    No,  no  I   Non 


-.- ni'j— Mjiiliiihi 


202  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEB. 

I  beg  thee  to  restrain  the  passion  which  was  ready  to 
overflow.  Let  not  the  secret  of  ray  heart  come  to  my 
li|)H.  Seal  my  mouth,  I  beseech  thee,  and  restrain  my 
voice  b^sfore  it  shall  narrate  what  I  know.  Let  this 
blindness  which  betrays  me  depart  from  me,  and  give 
me  back  my  former  strong  will." 

"  Adele,  what  do  you  mean  to  say  I"  asked  Julius, 
"  Whence  this  delirium  ?" 

"  Must  I  even  explain  to  you  the  cause  of  my  grief? 
Do  you  think  to  deceive  me  'i  Was  that  woman,  then, 
so  beautiful  that  the  simple  remembrance  of  her  is 
stronger  than  your  love  for  me  'i  In  what  way  did 
she  love  to  love  you  more  than  I  do  t  You  do  not 
know,  Julius,  how  I  love  you.  You  have  only  known 
in  mo  a  timid,  reserved  woman,  whom  a  simple  glance 
was  sufficient  to  make  happy,  but  I  was  waiting  only 
for  f>  single  impassioned  word,  for  a  waiw  caress,  to 
attach  myself  to  you,  to  love  you — not  as  a  wife,  but  as 
a  lover.  Oh!  tell  me  that  you  were  ignorant  of  those 
transports,  of  those  secret  desires,  of  that  love  which 
dare  not  burst  forth,  but  which  to-day  made  me  fall  at 
your  feet,  confounded,  suppliant,  mad  ?  You  will  not 
go  v<t?  Is  it  not  so?  You  will  forget  that  woman 
for  me,  who  entreat;  who,  crying,  kiss  your  hands, 
your  knees.  Yes,  she  was  beautiful ;  but  I  ? — ^I,  too, 
am  beautiful;  you  have  told  me  so  too  often  to  ignore 
it;  and  happiness  will  make  me  even  more  beautiful ; 


'  •'"•-•  iTniiiMitiiifwiin 


was  ready  to 
,  come  to  my 
1  restrain  my 
w.  Let  tbiH 
me,  and  give 

isked  Julius, 

of  my  grief? 
roman,  then, 
ce  of  her  is 
hat  way  did 
You  do  not 
only  known 
imple  glance 
waiting  only 
m  caress,  to 
I  wife,  but  as 
rant  of  those 
t  love  which 
de  me  full  at 
STou  will  not 
that  woman 
^our  hands, 
"'  I  ? — ^I,  too, 
en  to  ignore 
•e  beautiful ; 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  203 

dev'  essere  cos\ !    Ei  mi  domanda  ancora  »ma  virtii  ed 

io Mio  Dio,  vi  supplico  di  trattenere  la  passiono 

che  mi  sfugge !  Non  lasciate  montare  suUe  mie  lab- 
bra  il  segreto  del  mio  cnore,  chiudetomi  la  bocca,  vo 
ne  prego,  e  spengete  la  mia  voce  prima  ch'  essa  giun- 
ga  a  raccontare  quello  che  so.  Allontantite  da  me 
quest'  accecamentt)  che  mi  perde  e  rcstituitemi  hi  vo- 
lenti che  mi  avevate  data." 

"Adele,    che   intendeto    dire?"    domand6  Giulio, 
"qual'  h  il  motivo  di  questo  delirio." 

"  Bisogna  che  io  vi  spieghi  anche  perchfe  io  sofl'ra  ? 
Pensate  ingannarmi?  Era  dunque  cosi  bella  (luelhi 
donna  perchfe  il  suo  semplice  ricordo  sia  piti  forte 
deir  amor  mio  ?  Come  dunque  vi  amava  per  amai-vi 
pill  di  me  ?  Tu  non  sal,  (liulio,  qtiant'  io  ti  ami.  Tu 
hai  solo  conosciuto  in  me  una  donna  timida  e  riser- 
vata  che  un'  occhiata  bastava  a  rendere  felice,  ma  io 
aspettava  una  semplice  paroia  appassionata,  una  calda 
carezza  per  affezionarmi  a  te,  per  amarti  non  piu  da 
spoea  ma  da  amante.  Oh,  dimmi  che  tu  ignoravi 
questi  trasporti.  questi  segi-eti  desiderii,  quest'  amore 
che  non  osava  proiompere,  ma  che  oggi  mi  fa  cadere 
ai  tuoi  piedi  confusa,  supplichevole,  pazza.  Tu  non 
uscirai  non^vero?  Tu  dimenticherai  quella  donna 
per  me  che  ti  scongiuro,  che  piangendo  bacio  le  tue 

mani,  le  tue  ginocchia.   Si,  essa  era  bella,  ma  io, 

io  pure  son  bella,  spesso  tu  me  Io  hai  ripetuto,  e  la 
felicity  mi  i-endi-jt  piii  bella  e  tu  mi  guarderai  con  or- 


1 

i! 


ii 


I' 


404  AN  ANONYMOUS  LRTTKR. 

and  you  will  look  at  ine  with  pride.  Yes,  she  was  in- 
nocent ;  and  am  I  guilty  in  loving  you  ?  As  she  died, 
I  will  die,  too,  if  you  forsake  me.  Do  you,  then,  de- 
sire to  kill  both  of  us  V 

Julius  was  moved,  but  not  persuaded.  He  felt  how 
legitimate  was  Adelo's  sorrow,  and  how  strong,  to 
cause  her  to  speak  in  such  an  infatuated  way,  so  des- 
titute of  modesty.  Her  words  affected  his  ears,  not 
his  heart, — since  the  preceding  day  his  heart  had  been 
wholly  absorbed  in  the  remembrance  of  Fanny.  Free- 
ing himself  from  his  wife,  he  made  a  few  steps,  as  if 
to  go  out. 

"  So  you  will  go,  you  will  leave  me  if  all  that  I  have 
said  has  been  useless  to  detain  you  ? " 

"I must  go." 

' *  You  will  not  return  here  unless  avenged  or  dead  I" 

"Rightly!"' 

"And  during  your  absence  I,  who  know  all,  will 
cry,  tear  my  hair,  strike  my  forehead  against  the  wall, 
— and  all  that  cannot  detain  you  ?  On  the  field,  facing 
your  advei-sary,  nothing  can  affect  you?  nothing  will 
prevent  your  heart  beating  or  your  hand  trembling  ? 
This  is  what  is  in  store  for  me :  You,  if  you  come  l»aek, 
will  return  to  cry  for  her  beside  me,  or  be  brought 
here  a  corpse,  or  dying,  and  I  shall  cure  you  and  re- 
store your  life  to  hear  you  repeat  the  name  of  Fanny. 
Oh !  see,  Julius,  do  you  know  that  you  will  drive  me 
mad  ?  that  I  would  prefer  to  see  you  dead  rather  than 


^tiMta.,.,^^^..^^^^ — . ■" --"■riSiiirk'iiniiiniaiiiii. 


UM 


I,  sho  was  in- 
As  she  died, 
3U,  then,  de- 

He  felt  how 
1  strong,  to 
way,  so  dcH- 
lis  ears,  not 
irt  had  Ixten 
nny.  Free- 
'  steps,  as  if 

1  that  I  have 


id  or  dead !" 

ow  all,  will 
ast  the  wall, 
field,  facing 
lothing  will 
trembling  ? 
come  back, 
be  brought 
you  and  ro- 
3  of  Fanny, 
ill  drive  me 
rather  thaa 


UNA  r.KITKIU  ANONIMA.  SOA 

gofjllo!  Si.  ella  «'rii  innoccnte,  son  i<»  i-olpovolo  innan- 
doti  i  Com'  essa,  io  pure  niorro  se  tu  mi  lasci.  \'uoi 
diuiqiic  uc'cidcn'i  amlM-diior' 

Giulio  era  intencrito  ma  non  scosso.  Egli  sontiva 
quanto  fosse  legittimo  il  doloro  di  Adelo,  e  (|iiulc  do- 
vessi^  oss<'re  la  sua  possa  per  dettarle  un  liiigunjrgio 
oosi  appassionato,  cos\  sprovvoduto*!!  modcstia.  Quc- 
ste  parole  colpivano  Io  oret'fhi»>,ina  non  il  cuore.  Fin 
dal  giorno  i>r('fedcnto  (piest'  ultimo  era  stato  dato  al 
riconlo  di  Fanny.  Sfioltosi  dalle  strette  dl  sua  nio- 
glie  fece  qualche  passo  per  escire. 

"Cosi,  partite,  mi  lasciatei  Quanto  vi  ho  detto  fi 
inutile  per  tratlenervi  ? " 

"  Uisofinu  elf  io  vada." 

'*  Non  rientrerctc  qui  ohe  vendicato  o  morto?" 

"Appuntol" 

*'E  nella  vostra  assenza,  io  die  so  tutto  piango- 
rh,  mi  strappero  i  capelli  dal  doloro  mi  percuott-ro  la 
fronto  contro  il  muro.  E  tutto  questo  non  vale  a 
trattenervi.  Li\,  sul  terreno,  di  fronte  all'  avvei"surio 
nulla  vi  commuoverA,  o  vi  fanV  battero  il  cuore,  o  tre- 
mare  la  mano.  Ecco  cio  che  mi  h  riserbato.  Voi,  se 
ritornerete,  ritornerete  [ler  piangere  al  mio  lianco,  op- 
pure  mi  verrete  condotto  cadavere,  o  morente,  <'he  do- 
yri)  curare,  e  di  cui  di  liel  nuovo  prolunghero  la  vita 

per  udirvi  ripetere  il  nomo  di  Fanny Oli  I  vediito 

Giulio  !  voi  non  Haj)ete  cio  che  mi  fate  fare ....  non  sa- 
peto  che  mi  rendcto  folic  I  che  vorrei  vcdervl  morto 

13 


•##*' 


S'^*^  AN  ANONYMOU8  I.KTrKK. 

alive?     But  you  will    lot  deptiit  from  lienoo- 


-you 

will   not   liplit. Who  is  your  mlvorinry  ?     Who 

killed  your  heh>vp(l  i     Suint-GilleH ;  is  it  not  bo  I " 

'*  Who  olso  could  have  d(»no  it  I " 

*' And  if  he  n-fuHon  to  fight  i  " 

•'  H«  will  not  rot'uso  ;   1   have  his  answer  already." 

"HisHHrtwor  to  an  insulting  h'ttor.  Yet  one  docs 
not  risk  his  life  for  an  insult  that  could  be  repuiri'd. 
If  ho  refiuses  to  fight;  if  he  tells  you  that  he  did  not 
write  that  letter  ( " 

"I  will  tell  him  that  he  iei  a  coward;  I  will  take 
him  l»y  the  throat  with  one  hand  and  with  the  other  I 
will  slap  his  face." 

'*  But  then,  i>erhaps,  he  will  kill  you  ;  and  yet 

he  did  not  write  that  letter." 

"  Who  did,  then  i" 

"Some  one  that  you  cannot  strike some  one 

that  does  not  wish  for  your  death." 

''  Adele ! " 

"Some  one  who  emlmices  ycmr  feet ;  a  woman 
whom  jealousy  made  guilty,  and  who  speaks  now  on 
account  of  the  fear  of  losing  you.     It  was  1,  Julius." 

♦'You?" 

At  such  a  fearful  revelation,  Julius  ramained  as  if 
stricken  by  a  thunderl>olt. 

"  Youf"  he  i-epeated,  after  a  few  minutes. 

"Yes,  /,"  she  answered,  trying  to  seize  his  hands, 
which  he  drew  l>aek.     He  was  looking  at  her  with 


'  -^«a^a?ii.itfja^AW=^> 


r^H^M^^ifi^^Sai^U^ 


moe- 


-you 
my  ?  Who 
lot  so  I" 


Br  alrendy." 
'et  one  rtowi 
be  repaired. 
:  he  did  not 

I  will  tiike 
the  other  I 

ind  yet 


-  some  one 


;  a  M'oninn 
tikii  now  on 
1 1,  Julius." 

mined  as  if 

ites. 

'  his  hands, 

it  her  with 


UNA  l.KrrKKA  ANOMMA.  107 

an/ich^  vivo.     Mh  voi  nor  eAcii-ete  di  qui ....  non  vi 
batterete. . .  .Chi  e  il  voutro  avvcrsario^     Chi  hu  ucci* 
10  la  vostra  dilcttai     Saint-Ciilles  uon  e  veroC 
*'Clii  iiltri  ttvrehlMS  potuto  fiu-lo  <  " 
"■  K  s'  ogii  ritiuta  di  battfi-si  i  " 
*'  Ki  non  ritiuteru,  ho  giu  la  sua  rispoHta.* 
"  La  sua  risposta  ad  una  letttu'a  uisultante?    Non  si 
riHcliia  !a  vita  per  un  insulto  che  p  o  ripararsi.    Se  ri- 


ticritto  qiiellu 


render6  pel  coUo 
•  'iati'eggero." 
eppure,  egli  non 


fiiita  di  baltei'si,  se  vi  dirAchun'o   *■ 
k'lU'ra  file  fareto  voi  ?" 

"  Oli  diro  ch'  6  un  vil 
con  uno  iiiano,  mentre  col    ai 

"  Ma  allora  fowe  vi  iif  u. 
ha  scritta  quella  I'tttera. " 

"Chi  dunqueC 

*'Quak-he(hino  che  tu  non  puoi  colpire.  ...qual- 
cheduno  che  non  de»idera  la  tua  morte." 

''  Adele ! " 

"  Qualcheduno  che  nbbraccia  le  tue  ginocchia,  una 
donna  che  la  gelosia  rese  delittuosa  e  che  la  paiu-ti  di 
perderti  oggi  fa  parlare.     Fui  io  Giullo." 

ii  Voi ! " 

A  questa  terribii?  rivelazione  Giulio,resto  come  col- 
pitc)  da  folmine. 

"  Voi '( "  rlpete  dopo  un  momento  di  silenzio. 

"  Si,  io,"  rispose,  cercando  tli  prendergli  la  mano 
ch'  ei  vitrasse.  La  vimirava  con  stupore  e  con  spu- 
veuto.      Era  preso  dt\  vcrtigini  net  misurare  quella 


r 


208  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 

amnstement  and  terror.  He  wius  taken  with  dizziness 
in  measuring  that  profound  falsity  and  the  abj^sses  of 
that  heart,— a  burning  volcano  covered  with  snow. 
Finally  he  exclaimed:  "What  had  that  poor  thing 
done  to  you  ?  Oh  !  if  you  have  spoken  the  truth,  do 
not  approach  me  henceforth.  I  would  feel  only  pity 
for  you,  but  you  excite  my  horror." 

"  Julius,  you  ask  what  she  had  done  to  me  ?  But 
I  loved  you  from  the  firet  day  I  saw  you,  andshe  also 
loved  you.  Do  not  ask  me  how  I  happened  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  Ernest's  visits.  I  was  jealous, 
and  gold  bought  me  all  secrets  I  wished  to  know.  It 
was  I  that  caused  the  letter  to  be  copied  with  all  the 
precautions  Ternisien  narrated.  Yesterday  I  received 
from  him  and  burned  the  paper  written  by  my  hand. 
I  bought  Marion,  and  for  me  she  stole  the  ring  whose 
disappearance  was  to  serve  as  a  proof  against  Fanny. 
That  is  what  I  did,  and  it  seems  a  dream.  I  cannot 
believe  it  myself.      My  reason  is  wandering,  my  head 

is  feeble  as  my  body. ^Why  have  I  spoken  ?     Oh  ! 

yes,  1  remember  because  you  were  to  light  with  Saint- 
Giiles  ;  because  you  were  going  to  risk  your  life  and 
I  desired  to  save  you." 

"  Have  you  yet  that  ring  which  Marion  gave  you  ? 
Answer,  answer !     Give  it  to  me  1 " 

"1  have  it  no  more." 

"  Give  it  to  me  ! "  he  repeated  with  a  fearful  voice. 

She  staggered  bsick,  extending  her  arm  toward  him. 


am 


matm 


'  '•jiiffltii 


WifflBjf'i 


vith  dizziness 
;he  ab^'sses  of 
1  with  snow, 
it  poor  thing 
the  truth,  do 
eel  only  pity 

to  me  ?  Bnt 
,  and  she  also 
)pened  to  be- 
was  jealous, 
to  know.  It 
I  with  all  the 
ay  I  received 
by  my  hand, 
e  ring  whose 
;ainst  Fanny. 
1.  I  cannot 
ing,  my  head 
>oken  ?  Oh  ! 
it  with  Saint- 
your  life  and 

m  gave  you  ? 


'earftil  voice. 
I  toward  him. 


UNA  LETTBRA  ANONIMA.  20!) 

profondri  dissiniulazione  e  gli  abissi  di  quel  cuore,  vul- 
cano  araente  coperto  di  neve.     Finalmente  eschiuio : 

"  Che  cosa  vi  avea  fatto  la  poveretta  ?  Ah  i  so, 
avete  detto  il  vero,  piii  non  vi  avvicinate  a  me.  Vor- 
rei  provar  per  voi  solo  della  pieti,  ma  voi  mi  destato 
orrore." 

*'Giulio,  mi  domandate  che  cosa  mi  avesse  futto? 
Ma  io  vi  amava  tin  dal  giorno  che  vi  vidi,  ed  e^sa  pure 
vi  amuva.  Non  domandatemi  come  arrivassi  a  cono-. 
scere  le  visite  di  Ernesto,  era  gelosa  e  1'  oro  mi  ven- 
deva  i  segreti  di  cui  agognava  la  conoscenza.  Fui  io 
che  feci  scrivere  la  lettera  con  tutte  quelle  precauzioni 
che  Ternisien  vi  ha  narrato.  lei-sera  ricevei  da  lui  e 
strappai  la  copia  scritta  di  mio  pugno.  Io  sedussi 
Marianna  ed  essa  per  me  rubo  1'  anelio  di  cui  la  dispa- 
riziooe.  dove\a  servire  di  prova  contro  Fanny.     E«'co 

quello -che  feci e  cio  mi  sembra  un  sogno.     Io 

Btessa  non  arrivo  a  prcstarvi  fede.     La  mia  ragione  si 

smnrrisce,  la  mia  testa  e  dobole  al  pari  del  corpo 

Perche  ho  io  parlato  ?  Ah !  si,  mel  ricordo,  perch^ 
dovevate  battervi  con  Saint-Gillee.  Fu  perche  anda- 
vate  a  I'ischiare  la  vita  ed  io  voleva  salvarvi. 

"Quell'  anelio  che  vi  fu  dato  da  Marianna  Io  avete 
voiancora?     Rispondetemi,  datemelo." 

"Pill  non  Io  posseggo." 

"  Datemelo,"  ripiglio  Giulio  con  voce  terribile. 

Ella  indietreggio  traballando  e  atendendo  le  braccia 
¥01*80  di  lui. 


■^msjM 


T 


210 


AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEK. 


"Julius,"  she  replied,  "I  have  that  ring  no  more. 
Your  looks  affright  me;  your  voice  makes  me  tremble. 
Have  you  no  pity  for  me  ? " 

*'Had  you  pity  for  her?" 

"Always  HER  I" 

''Do  you  not  ramembur  that  she  is  dead,  and  died 
muixlered  by  you?    Pity  for  you  I    Never!" 

"•  I,  too,  have  suffered.  Was  I  not  jealous  ?  Am 
I  not  yet  so  ?  Have  I  not  suffered  when  the  victim  of 
a  love  which  could  cause  me  to  lose  all  modesty  i  I 
saw  you  going  out  to  meet  her.  Have  I  not  silently 
concealed  my  tears  ?  Have  I  not  sighed  every  night  ? 
Mute  and  insensible  in  appearance,  have  I  not  stag- 
gered at  the  noise  of  your  footsteps,  at  the  sound  of 
your  voice,  and  when  your  hand  touched  mine?  And 
during  two  years  what  has  been  my  lot  ?  By  day 
Fanny  occupies  your  thoughts,  and  often  even  at 
night  in  your  dreams  I  have  heard  her  name.  Did  I 
complain  ?  And  to-day,  because  the  fear  of  losing 
you  has  made  me  speak,  fool  that  I  was,  you  reject 
me  without  pity.  Your  eyes  have  not  a  single  tear 
for  my  sufferings,  your  heart  has  not  an  excuse  for 
my  fault  She  could  have  died;  she  I  you  had  loved 
her.  What  will  become  of  me  if  you  will  not  see  me 
any  more?  A  word  only,  for  pity;  not  a  word  of 
love.  Now  you  cannot  speak  it ;  I  know  it,  and  yet 
you  would  make  me  so  happy.  No,  no!  it  is  not 
that  which  I  ask  of  you.     Only  let  fall  a  l(M)k  upon 


ring  no  more, 
es  me  tremble. 


lend,  and  died 


rer 


?'» 


iealoas  /    Am 

I  the  victim  of 

modesty  ?    I 

I  not  silently 

I  every  night? 
^e  I  not  stag- 

the  sound  of 
Imine?  And 
lot?  By  day 
iften  even  at 
lame.  Did  I 
3ar  of  losing 
CB,  you  reject 
a  single  tear 
m  excuse  for 
ou  had  loved 

II  not  see  me 
<t  a  word  of 
(V  it,  and  yet 
lol  it  is  not 

a  look  upon 


;yi?Si"l^;^%il\ir^(ISK 


UNA  IJJTTEKA  ANONniA. 


211 


"Giulio,"  riprese/'io  non  ho  piu  qiu^ll'  anello.le  vo- 
8tre  occhiate  mi  spaventano,  la  vostra  voce  mi  fa  tre- 
mare.     Non  sentite  pieti\  <ii  me) " 

**  A  vt'ste  voi  pietA  di  lei  I " 

**Sempre  lei!" 

"Non  vi  ricordnte  ch'  essa  h  moiia,  morta  nssassi- 
nata  da  voi  I    PietfV  per  voi  ?    Mai !  " 

'''lo  pure  ho  soffei'to.  Non  sono  stata  forae  gelosal 
Non  lo  sono  anche  adesso  ?  Non  io  patito  quando  in 
pretla  ad  un  amore  che  poteva  fai'mi  perdere  ogni  pu- 
dore  vi  vedeva  escire  per  recarvi  presso  di  lei  ?  Non 
ho  io  divorato  in  silenzio  le  mie  lagrime?  Non  io  ge- 
muto  tutte  le  notti  ?  In  apparenza  muta  ed  insensi- 
bile  non  ho  io  trabalzato  al  nimore  dei  vosti'i  passi,  al 
su(>no  della  vostra  voce,e  quando  la  vostra  mano  tocca- 
va  la  mia  ?  E  da  due  anni  a  questa  paile  quale  si  fu  il 
mio  destino  ?  Di  giorno  Fanny  oticupa  i  vostri  pen- 
sieri;  spesso  anche  di  notte  ho  sorpreso  il  suo  nome 
nei  vostri  sogni.  Mi  sono  io  lamentata  i  Ed  oggi 
perch^  11  timore  di  perdervi  mi  fece  parlai-e,  foUe  che 
fui,  voi  mi  respingete  senza  piet4.  I  vostri  occhi  non 
hanno  una  lagrima  pei  miei  patimenti,  il  vostro  cuora 
non  una  scusa  per  la  mia  colpa.  Essa  pot^  morire. 
Essa !  voi  1'  avcvate  amata,  ma  che  cosa  sarA  di  me  se 
non  voiTete  piii  vedcrmi?  Una  parola,  Giulio,  una 
parola  di  grazia,  non  ur?a  parola  d'  amore,  adesso  tu 
non  puoi  piii  proferirhi.  lo  so,  eppure  mi  faresti  cos) 
felico !    Ma,  no,  non  e  tlo  che  ti  domimdo.     Lascia 


J 


212  AN  ANONVMOU8  LETIKK. 

me  119  formerly,  as  yesterday,  and  I  will  leave  yoci 
in  peace.  You  will  think  of  her,  you  will  cry  for  her, 
and  I — w^'en  your  eyes  shall  lie  dry,  I  will  return  to 
you,  I  will  kneel  and  ask  your  pardon.  Oh  !  my  head 
burns.     A  word,  only  a  word,  or  I  shall  die  ! " 

She  had  approached  him;  he  pushed  her  hack  again. 

"  Infamous  one !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  if  you  yet  have 
it,  give  me  that  ring." 

"  What  will  you  do  with  it  I "  she  asked,  raising  her 
head  and  regaining  an  energy  inspired  by  despair. 

"  1  would  in  your  presence  cover  it  with  kisses  and 
let  you  know  once  again,  liefore  we  part,  how  I  love 
her  who  had  it." 

"To  part?  Oh  !  Julius,  you  defy  me?  you  believe 
me  feeble  and  under  your  feet.  To  separate  ?  But 
I  am  your  wife  and  will  follow  you  everywhere. 
What  will  you  say  to  obtain  that  separation?  That 
fur  jealousy  1  nmrdered  your  mistress  ?  And  the 
proof,  where  is  it?  That  letter  was  destroyed.  I 
will  answer  that  you  were  lying.  Ah  !  you  are  with- 
out pity  for  me  ;  you  will  punish  me  for  my  love  for 
you  with  the  remembrance  you  keep  of  the  other, 
and  then  forsake  me.  Well,  then  1  As  your  wife  I 
claim  my  right  to  remain  with  you;  I  will  never  leave 
you.    Do  you  undei-stand  ?" 

"Madam,  we  shall  not  see  each  other  again.' 


^"mmmmm 


m 


I  leave  yo«i 
ciy  for  hor, 

II  rehirn  to 
)h !  my  head 
die!" 

buck  again, 
ou  yet  have 

,  raising  her 
despair, 
h  kisscis  and 
how  I  love 

you  believe 
irate?  But 
verywhere. 
on  ?  That 
And  the 
jtroyed.  I 
u  are  with- 
ny  love  for 
the  other, 
our  wife  I 
aever  leave 

rain.' 


UNA  LRTTERA  ANONIMA.  213 

■!>lo  cridcre  su  me  un'  occhiata  come  prima,  come  iori 
ancora,  ed  i<>  ti  lascio.     Tu  penserai  a  lei,  tu  la  pian- 

gcutti  ed  io quando  i  tuoi  occhi  saranno  asciugati, 

ritornero  viiino  a  te,  m'  inginocchiero  e  ti  domander6 
porclono.  Oh  !  la  testa  mi  brucia.  Una  sola  parola, 
od  io  mi  muoio !  " 

Essa  Bi  era  recato  vicina  a  Giulio.  Egli  la  re- 
spinse. 

*'InfameI"  esclam6,  "se  ancora  Io  avote  datemi 
quell'  anello." 

"Che  cosa  volete  fame?"  domandt)  alzando  la 
testa,  e  riprendendo  un'  energia  inspirata  dalhi  dispe- 
razione. 

•'  Vorrei  in  vostra  presenza  coprirlo  di  baci  farvi 
vedere  una  volta  ancora  prima  di  separarci,  quanto 
io  ami  colei  che  Io  ha  portato." 

" Separarci i  Ah,  Giulio!  voi  mi  stidute?  Voi 
mi  credete  debole  e  caduta  sotto  i  piedi  i  Separarci  ? 
Ma  io  sono  vostni  moglie  e  vi  soguiro  dajiertutto. 
Che  cosa  direte  per  ottenere  questa  separazione  ?  Che 
per  gelosia  uccisi  la  vostr'  amante.  E  la  prova  dov'  e  i 
Quella  letteiu  fu  distrutta.  Risponder6  che  mentite. 
Ah,  voi  siete  senza  piet& !  Voi  volete  punirmi  dei  mio 
amore  per  voi  col  ricordo  che  conservate  dell'  altra,  ed 
in  seguito  allontanarmi.  Ebbene!  Moglie  roclamo 
il  mio  diritto  di  rimanere  presso  di  voi.  Io  piu  non 
vi  lascero,  mi  cap'te  ? "  "  , 

'•Signora,  noi  f  'i  non  ci  vedreuio," 


: 


iaSM^nnmuiMMtii 


214  AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTEK. 

"  We  will  see  each  other  every  diiy.  Every  day  1 
will  importune  you  with  my  presence,  with  my  love, 
with  my  distress  and  my  jealousies." 

"  Be  silent,  madam,  be  silent ! " 

"No,  I  will  not ;  neit{ier  to-day  nor  to-morrow.  Ah! 
you  believe  you  have  suffei-ed  by  having  lost  your 
darling  while  another  woman  whose  reason  you  have 
destroyed  only  receives  fmm  you  the  epithet  of  infa- 
mous and  the  threat  of  a  separation.  No,  no  1  We 
are  united  to  each  other,  and  we  will  not  be  parted. 
Our  existence  will  be  a  hell,  but  I  am  used  to  suffer- 
ing, and  I  accept  my  lot." 

Out  of  her  mind,  almost  mad,  she  had  taken  the 
arm  of  her  husband,  whose  rage  had  been  increased 
by  such  foolish  provocation.  A  fearful  expi-ession  of 
contempt  and  hatred  shone  in  his  eyes.  The  door  of 
the  room  opened  with  violence,  and  at  the  same  time 
three  gentlemen  entered.  Julius  made  a  last  effort, 
and  as  he  had  not  seen  the  presence  of  the  others, 
raised  his  hand  at  his  wife.  She  bent  and  fell,  half 
fainting  under  the  blow. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  he,  "the  hour  I  appointed  for 
our  meeting  is  past.  Without  doubt  you  come  to 
search  for  me.  M.  Saint-Gilles,  I  would  not  have 
delayed  presenting  my  excuses  to  you  and  praying 
you  to  forget  the  letter  I  had  addressed  you.  You 
Clin  see  the  motive  of  my  <lelay,  a  conjugal  scene, 


pery  day  1 
b  my  love, 


vrovr.  Ah  I 
lost  your 

I  you  have 

et  of  infii- 
nol    We 

be  parted. 

i  to  suffer- 

taken  the 
increased 
)i-e8sion  of 
tie  door  of 
same  time 
last  effort, 
le  others, 
I  fell,  half 

ointed  for 
i  come  to 
not  have 
I  praying 
ou.  You 
^al  scene, 


UNA  LBTTERA  ANONIMA. 


215 


"Xoi  ci  vedremo  tutti  i  giomi.  Tutti  i  giomi  v'  im- 
portuner6  colla  mia  presenza,  col  mio  amore,  coi  miei 
lament!,  colle  mie  gelosie." 

"Tacete,  signora,  tacete  1 " 

"  Non  tacer6  n^  oggi,  n^  domani.  Ah  voi  credete 
di  avore  sofferto  per  avere  perduto  la  vostr'  amante, 
ed  un'  altra  donna  di  cui  avete  sconvolta  la  ragione  non 
puu  ottenere  da  voi  ehe  il  titolo  d'  infame  e  la  pro- 
'  messa  di  una  separazione.  No,  no!  Noi  saremo  uniti 
r  uno  all'  altra,  signora,  e  non  ci  separeranno.  La 
nostra  esistenza  sari^  un  inferno  ma  io  sono  assuefatta 
a  morire  ed  accetto  la  mia  sorte." 

.Fuori  di  8^  stessa,  perduta,  quasi  in  demenza  cssa 
aveva  preso  il  braccio  di  suo  marito  del  quale  la  rabl)ia 
erasi  aumentata  a  quest'  insensata  provocazione.  Una 
terribile  espressione  di  disprezzo  e  di  odio  brillava 
nei  suoi  occhi.  La  porta  del  gabinetto  in  questo  frat- 
tcnipo  si  apri  con  violenza  e  nel  tempo  stesso  tre  si- 
gnori  entraroso.  Giulio  facendo  un'  ultimo  sforzo,  e 
come  non  si  accorgesse  della  loro  presenza,  alzo  la 
mano  su  sua  moglie.  Essa  piegossi  e  semi-svenuta 
cadde  sotto  al  ricevuto  colpo. 

"  Signori,"  diss'  egli,  "  1'  ora  ch*  io  stesso  aveva  fis- 
sato  pel  nostro  duello  h  tmscorsa,  senza  dubbio  voi 
venite  a  cercai-mi.  Signor  8aint-Gilles,  non  avrei 
tardato  di  venire  a  presentarvi  le  mie  sense,  e  pre- 
garvi  di  dimenticare  la  lettera  che  vr  diressi.  Voi 
potete  vederc  11  motivo  del  mio  ritardo.     Una  scena 


210 


AN  ANONYMOUS  LETTER. 


that  I  cannot  hide  like  the  othera.  Madam  was  asking 
a  separation  which  I  was  i-efusing  to  her ;  now  I  do 
not  object  any  longer,  and  the  testimony  you  will 
make  in  her  favor  will  be  tlie  punishment  of  a  bru- 
tality of  which  I  feel  ashamed,  but  of  which  it  is  too 
late  to  repent  now." 

He  approached  his  wife,  and  in  a  low  voice  said  to 
her  : 

"  To  day  you  will  lodge  your  complaint,  otherwise 
before  these  gentlemen  1  'vill  dishonor  you  by  tell- 
ing what  I  know." 


EPILOGUE. 
A  month  after  that  Julius^  and  Adele  wore  separat- 
ed. Two  months  later  Julius  mourned  his  wife,  and 
the  year  was  not  ended  that  Temisien  in  tears  accom- 
panied a  funeral  retinne  that  went  out  from  the  pal- 
ace of  the  rue  de  Lille. 


"mmhm 


muM 


1 


rm  asking 
now  I  do 
'^you  will 
of  a  bni- 
li  it  \»  too 

CO  mid  to 

:)thorwi8e 
l»y  tell- 


"oparafc- 
k'ife,  and 
"8  accom- 
i  tlie  pal- 


^^I^I^^M 


UNA  LETTERA  ANONIMA.  817 

coningale  ohe  piii  non  posso  nascondere  ul  pari  delle 
precedenti.  La  signora  mi  doniandava  una  separa- 
ziono  cii'  io  riiiutava,  adesso  per6  non  vi  frappongo 
ostacoli,  6  la  testimonianza  clie  farcto  in  suo  favore 
sarsi  la  puni/.ione  di  nna  brutalitA  doUa  quale  arros- 
sisco  un  poco  troppo  tardi." 

Egli  si  accosto  a  sua  moglie  e  sotto  voce  le  clisse  : 
"  Oggi  stesso  farete  la  vostra  querela,  ovvero  alia 
presenza  di  questi  signori  vi  disuiioro  svelando  il  tutto." 


RIEPILOGO. 

Un  mese  dopo  Ginlio  ed  Adele  erano  separati.  Due 
niesi  piu  tardi  Giulio  prese  il  lutto  di  sua  moglie,  e 
r  anno  non  era  tinito  che  Ternisien  pinngendo  aceom- 
pagnava  un  fnnebre  corteggio  che  osciva  dal  palazzo 
della  via  di  Lilla. 

ITNE. 


A 


